




















Class _ VWscnA 

Book_ Ll i-_ 

Gopyii^ht N?.__ 

C.OFiKIGHT DEPOSIT 













































/ 




\ 





9 


♦ 





THE 

SINGLE FINGER PRINT 
DENTIF! CATION SYSTEM 


BY WALTER C. S. CROSSKEY 


Jt PRACTICAL WORK UPON THE 
SCIENCE OF FINGER PRINTING 



A 

1 ) 

> 5 > 

* > 

*> » *> 


PRICE $5.50 


PUBLISHED BY 

CRCSSKEY SINGLE FINGER 
PRINT SYSTEM 


SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 



Copyright 1923, by W.alter C. S. Crosskey 
All rights reserved 

Including that of translation into 

foreign languages, including the 

Scandinavian. 



GENERAL EFFICIENCY COMPANY 
Printers 


136 McAllister street 
SAN FRANCISCO 
CALIFORNIA 


l-t 


D 


b A. 


©Cl AG9C449 


^ o | 


4 

c* 


■^6 

Vb 

^3 

a 

02 

% 


Patents have been applied for covering' 
our new method of finger print classifica¬ 
tion and our improved filing system in 
the United States of America, England, 
Canada, Australia, and all foreign coun¬ 
tries throughout the world, and all per¬ 
sons are warned against attempting to 
use the same without proper license. 


TO 

MY SILENT PARTNER 
THIS VOLUME IS 
DEDICATED. 





Photo by Tom Green 










8 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



llulto 3?pnrtuipnt. (Sitg cl (gfofefotid. (Calit. 
Hurraii et S^fiiiilkatien 



October 2nd, 1922. 


Wr. rf. C. S. Crosskoy, 

Crosskey Single linger Print System, 

Suite 112, 16£ Osary Street, 

San Francisco, Calif. 

My dear Mr. Crosskey: 

I take this opportunity of expressing to you 
my regard Ccr your system, known as the '’Crosskey Single 
Finger Print System". 

I have examined very thoroughly the system, 
and have trade numerous tests in searching for single 
finger prints, and on, to the full set of finger prints 
in the regular files, from the key, and have bean very 
successful in each instance. The time consumed' in the 
search depended entirely on the portion of the print 
available to work from. 

I have been engaged in the identification 
profession in charge of the Bureau of Identification, 
in the Oakland, California Police Department, for 
fifteen years, and have made considerable study of 
the problem of single finger print work, and I find 
your system the best 1 have had an opportunity of 
examining or testing in that time. 

Wishing you the success that you deserve 
in the sale of your system, as well as wishing you well 
in every other way, I am. 


Sincerely yours, 

Inspector in charger D ureau of Identification, 
Police Dept., Oakland, Cal. 

For six years President International Asa'jn 
for Identification. 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


9 



Some of the pieces of finger prints that were 
submitted by experts to the author and were success¬ 
fully identified out of a file containing over 400,000 
finger print records. The illustrations show the full 
finger impressions and the pieces that supplied the 
key by which the identifications were made. 



“ Finger Prints are the signatures 
of nature on her handiwork, man 


John Burroughs. 




Plate 1 



























THE SINGLE FINGER PRINT 
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM 


INTRODUCTION 

There is no more striking testimony to the useful¬ 
ness of finger prints as a means of positive identifica¬ 
tion than the many convictions that have been secured 
in the Courts. 

The acceptance of finger prints as a reliable scien¬ 
tific v. itness that cannot be swayed by any human emo¬ 
tion, throws an added responsibility upon the finger 
print expert as a protector of society against the depre¬ 
dations of its subnormal members. The Single Finger 
Print Identification System has been devised to enable 
the finger print expert to fullfill this responsibility 
to its greatest extent. 

Guessing and hoping to be right no longer have a 
place in the problem of Identity, or in the conduct of 
an Identification Bureau. The Finger Print Expert 
of the present time must not only know where to place 
a finger print, but must be able to predict with a mod¬ 
erate degree of precision where it belongs—who is its 
owner. The use of charts is a sure and speedy way to 
substitute fact for surmise. 


14 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


This system provides for the quick finding and rec¬ 
ognition of any set of finger prints that may be in the 
file from a duplicate of any one of the ten digits obtain¬ 
ed from another source. It supplies a scientific, con¬ 
sistent and practical system that will expedite long, 
wearisome search, and place the operator in touch 
with the print wanted in a few moments. 


The finger print expert must be efficient if the ex¬ 
pected results are to be gained. Pweal efficiency is the 
science of discovering how to do things more easily, 
and more accurately. Practical efficiency in an iden¬ 
tification bureau means the securing of accurate re¬ 
cords that will eliminate any degree of guess work, by 
giving* a premise of fact that allows scientific authen¬ 
tication. The Single Finger Print Identification Sys¬ 
tem is built on a firm foundation of scientific principles 
that provide the progressive operator with the assis¬ 
tance that is so desirable. 


The utility of this system will be apprecia ed more 
especially by those who are engaged in the arduous pro¬ 
cess of searching the files to complete identifications. 
Every workman in the exercise of his art should be 
provided with proper implements, and this system pro¬ 
vides the quickest means for making a scientific iden¬ 
tification than may be employed in any bureau. 


As the p*e ent system of classification and filing of 
finger prints is well founded and thoroughly rooted in 
universal application, there is no need to disturb its 
foundations. So this system commences its opera¬ 
tions where the ‘Henry System’ concludes its classifi¬ 
cation, and so acts as a real auxiliary to the present 
files no matter what size, for this system is devised 
to allow for any expansion that may be needed. 


INTRODUCTION 


15 


In constructing the Single Finger Print Identifica¬ 
tion System, the inventor’s chief aim has been to ob¬ 
tain the greatest amount of practical utility. Such 
principles of arrangement as appeared to him to be the 
simplest, and most natural, and v. hich would not re¬ 
quire either for their comprehension, or application, 
any disciplined acumen or depth of knowledge, have 
accordingly been adopted. By taking as a guide, the 
more obvious characters of the patterns and arranging 
them under such classes and categories as reflection 
and experience have taught him would conduct the en¬ 
quirer most readily to the object of his search, has en¬ 
abled (he subtle parts of the patterns to be disregarded. 


The adaptation of the single finger print by Com¬ 
merce and Industry necessitates a reliable system 
that will quickly expose any attempt of forgery, or 
impersonation. The Single Finger Print Identificat¬ 
ion System will be found an effective preventive of 
deception and fraud by Banks, Insurance, Surety, Ex¬ 
press Companies, Bond Houses, Corporations and 
Large Employers of labor; also by individuals to 
guard their own signatures. So, fundamental instruc¬ 
tion of the finger patterns are included in this work 
for the convenience of anyone desirous of installing a 
finger print system, also suggestions that will help 
adapt this system to commercial and industrial 

purposes. 


The reader may, with little study, at once put in 
to practice an easy, scientific, and therefore infall¬ 
ible system for obtaining the following results 


16 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


First A scientific identification can be 
be made by one finger without having to 
use another print for comparison. 


Second Any set of finger prints that are 
in the file may be located with only one rolled 
impression to work from. 


Third Any set of finger prints that are 
in the file can be found with only a single 
impression to work from. 


Fourth Any set of finger prints that are 
in the file may be found with only one latent 
acting as a guide—even when no deltas have 
been obtained. 


Fifth A classification of any finger can 
be sent out, or placed on the wire, and so es¬ 
tablish a scientific identity at any distance 
any time it is wanted. 


Sixth The correctness of an amputated 
print may be immediately ascertained. It 
will eliminate the possibility of altering a 
classification by amputation. 


Seventh This system allows the greatest 
possible scope to gather scientific data from 
a file in the shortest period. This alone will 
commend this system to many earnest mem¬ 
bers of the finger print profession. 


INTRODUCTION 


17 


These results, however surprising they may ap¬ 
pear to you, are facts, that may be easily ascertained. 
The inventor is convinced that anyone who will exam¬ 
ine this system with a little care and patience, and 
with an open mind, will very cpiickly satisfy them¬ 
selves that this is the long sought auxiliary the pro¬ 
fession has been seeking through the 3 r ears that fin¬ 
ger printing has been establishing its right to the 
title of “The only sure method of human identifica¬ 
tion.’’ Any finger print expert who will install this 
system as an adjunct to his file, can be assured that 
he is going to meet with a rich reward in results, and 
be in a position to render the best scientific services 
that can be accomplished to-day. 


On Page 144, is a photographic reproduction 
that all readers of finger print literature are famil¬ 
iar with. To demonstrate the efficiency of the 
Crosskey Identification Charts, the process of finding 
these prints from their plain impressions is outlined, 
so that it may serve as a guide to find similar prints 
in the files. These well known prints are used so 
that the profession may see how practical and easy 
it is to chart and use this system. It will also set 
aside any doubts that may arise that special care has 
been taken to illustrate the efficiency of these charts 
with specially selected prints. The use of these prints 
show how this system acts as an auxiliary to the file, 
and how it is possible to expedite the search for any 
print, and how the ‘hit and miss’ method of working 
back, with its long task of scrutinizing innumerable 
prints for the purpose of finding a set from which a 
scientific comparison can be made, is eliminated. 


Old things fade away. In the march of progress 
we demand new and more certain methods. The 


18 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Bertillon system, with its array of expensive instru¬ 
ments and time consuming filing, has been abandoned 
by progressive identification bureaus — and more are 
following this lead every month - in favor of the sim¬ 
ple method of finger printing; which gives a greater 
accuracy along with a confident scientific result in a 
small fraction of the time consumed by the anthropo¬ 
metric system. In the perspectives of time and achiev- 
ment, the activity of this system will become colossal. 


Included in this work are thirty original patterns 
that have been submitted by Mr. C. S. Morrill, Super¬ 
intendent of the California State Bureau of Identifica¬ 
tion, Sacramento, Calif., to Sir E. R. Henry, co ission- 
er of Police, London, England; for definition. The 
photographic reproductions are accompanied by Sir 
Henry’s explanation with drawings. 


The author wishes to give recognition and credit 
to the people whose sincere co-operation has made 
possible the completion of this work, by taking this 
orportunity to publicly thank them for the valuable 
assistance and support given during the course of this 
task. 


To Mr C. S. Morrill, Superintendent of the Calif¬ 
ornia State Bureau of Identification and Investigation, 
for allowing the hitherto unpublished prints and defin¬ 
itions from Sir E. R. Henry; also for the many splen¬ 
did suggestions which have improved the system, and 
the duplicate cards that made early experiments pos¬ 
sible. I am sincerely grateful and hope this work will 
prove as useful to him as his help has been to me 
during its construction. 


INTRODUCTION 


19 


To Mr. H. H. Caldwell, Inspector in charge of 
the Identification Bureau, Police Department, Oakland, 
California, also past: President of the International 
Association for Identification. For bringing this 
system to the notice of the Identification Officers at 
Washington, D. C., during the Annual Convention of 
the I. A. I., September 1921. Mr. Caldwell spent 
less than one hour learning this system, then went to 
Washington and the system was sent by express 
several days later. 


The regulation 8x8 cards with the ten rolled and 
eight plain impressions on each card were used. 
When Mr. Caldwell offered to identify any single fin¬ 
ger print out of the thousands offered to pick from, 
he caused quite a little sensation. And when he suc¬ 
cessfully demonstrated that it could be done by doing 
the same, not once, but as many times as called upon. 
Every one was satisfied that the long sought auxili¬ 
ary for the regular file was found. 


To Warden James A. Johnston, and Captain S. L. 
Randolph for allowing the use of the file at San 
Quentin Prison, which was a heavy contributing 
factor in producing this system, and my thanks are 
herewith acknowledged. Not only was this help a 
personal aid, but it was a service rendered to society 
that has helped to materially advance the science of 
finger printing as a means of identification. 


The latents shown herein were sent by Chief of 
Police August Vollmer, Berkeley, California, who is 
also Chairman of the Board of Managers of the Cali¬ 
fornia State Bureau for Criminal Identification, and by 
Inspector Frederick Ivutz, Superintendent of the Iden- 


20 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


tification Bureau, Police Department, Long Beach, 
California. Nor must mention be forgotten of 
Chief Vollmer’s sincere magnanimity in offering the 
result of his many years work upon a single finger 
print system. 


In the hope and trust that this work will be found 
full, accurate and reliable; and that it will awaken the 
minds of its readers to the value of the single digit 
identification, this work is submitted to the judgment 
of a thoughtful profession. 


Walter C. S. Crosskey. 


NATIONAL BANK OF NEW YORK 

Key No. 


COMMERCIAL ADAPTION 


21 



Plate 























COMMERCIAL 


UTILITY OF FINGER PRINTS 


An impression of the inner surface of the first 
joint of the fingers, is called a finger print; because the 
finger leaves its mark, the formation of the ridges, 
upon the subject touched. It is not necessary to ink 
the finger in order to produce an impression. Healthy 
persons naturally excrete an oily substance that keep 
the ridges of the skin moist and pliable. So when any 
ridge formation of the fingers comes in contact with 
any object, a mark, which is not always discernable to 
the naked eye, remains upon the spot that was touched. 


The formation of the ridges upon the fingers is 
regular in its multiformity. So much so, that the 
similarity of the symmetry produce definite patterns, 
whereby scientific identification can be made. The 
knowledge and use of these patterns, extends over a 
period of more than sixty years. 


Finger prints have earned the title of “The only 
true medium of Identification”. * They are the one 
thing that are not liable to misinterpretation. Iden¬ 
tification is not merely a business need, it is a social 
necessity that will eventually be recognized by every¬ 
one being finger printed, so that their identity can be 
established whenever they want it. 


* Wilder & Wentworth, “Personal Identification”, pp 340. 


COMMERCIAL ADAPTION 


23 


As business is usually in the lead in such move¬ 
ments, it will not be long before commerce and indus¬ 
try will be demanding its presence upon documents 
that lend themselves to fraud and deception. As this 
is being written a newspaper clipping in today’s mail 
spates “That at the American Banke s Association 47th 
Annual Convention, held in Los Angeles, October 
1921, a report had been adopted recommending that 
finger prints be utilized to a larger extent in their 
banks”. 


There is a theory advanced that a duplication of 
a finger print can be made by mechanical means. For 
the benefit of those who have not sufficient time to 
make a thorough study of the science of finger print¬ 
ing, they are now informed, that this claim is a state¬ 
ment from persons who do not know, or understand 
the principles involved in this science. For any ex¬ 
pert, with but little examination, can very easily de¬ 
tect the difference between an imitation and a genuine 
finger print. The texture of the skin does not read¬ 
ily lend itself to fraudulent imitation. 


Fingers have always been useful, but are more 
than ever essential now, which is due to modern sci¬ 
ence of identification from finger prints because of 
their accuracy. Banks, Insurance and Express Com¬ 
panies, Bonding Houses, Mutual Benefit and Secret 
Societies may take the impression of one digit and 
so protect themselves against fraud. A finger print 
placed upon checks, notes, or other negotiable 
paper is far more positive and absolute proof against 
forgery than a signature, and will prove a good in¬ 
surance for the prevention of fraud. 


When travelers checks are issued, a single finger 


24 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


print, or the drawee’s finger classification upon the 
checks, would provide a ready means of identification, 
no matter where it was presented. 

When individual checks a:e made out, a registered 
finger print under the signature insures against for¬ 
gery. A finger print placed upon notes, deeds, wills, 
mortgages, transfers, contracts, etc. will speedily elim¬ 
inate fraudulent possibilities. 


By taking the impression of one finger and attach¬ 
ing it to a policy, an insurance company can protect 
itself against the substitution of another body. It 
would be easy to take an impression after death. 
With the original classification in the file at the com¬ 
panies office, it would take but a few minutes to certify 
the correctness of any claim 


It is a well known fact that the fire insurance com¬ 
panies have records of unscrupulous persons who go 
about from city to city, insuring places of business in 
each city by using different names, destroying them 
by fire and then collecting from the insurance com¬ 
pany for the loss. If a single finger print was placed 
upon record, and with the classification on the file at 
the sub-offices, these people would be quickly elim¬ 
inated from insurance circles. 


With a finger print on file, the fraudulent insur¬ 
ance of automobiles would quickly be stopped. Up >n 
each policy being issued the classification could be 
sent to the branch offices, and by arranging for the 
inter-change of classifications between the different 
companies, these unscrupulous persons could be pre¬ 
vented from perpetuating this class of crime. 


COMMERCIAL ADAPTION 


25 


The Civil Service Commissioners will soon be iden¬ 
tifying applications by a finger print upon the exam¬ 
ination papers, thereby preventing substitution of ap¬ 
plicants for Civil Service positions. The Foreign of¬ 
fice will be placing a finger print upon passports as 
it is a more conclusive identification than a photo¬ 
graph. Election officials will be taking a finger 
print at the polling booth. By its use at time of 
voting the most dependable trick of crooked politic¬ 
ians will be circumvented. In course of time finger 
prints will be utilized by the office of the County 
Clerk as a check to aid in the prevention of bigamy. 


Fraternal and Mutual Benefit Societies could issue 
a card bearing a single finger print of a member taken 
before authorized officers. With the classification 
filed on an identification chart, the members move¬ 
ments could always be verified by telegraph and his 
identity established quickly at any distance. 


Occasionally an employee defaults. As it is a 
general rule to bond trusted men, there is a little dif¬ 
fidence in requesting these employees for their finger 
prints, because of the notoriety attached as a means 
of criminal identification. But to ask for a finger 
impression is another matter, and one that can meet 
with no serious objections from anyone with sincere 
intentions. 


A law is operative in Wichita, Kansas, which 
necessitates that finger prints be taken of all persons 
when pawning, or selling any article at pawn, or sec¬ 
ond hand shops. The pawnbrokers refused to follow 
it at first, and appealed to the Courts on the grounds 


26 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


of unconstitutionality. The Supreme Court of the 
Sta.e of Kansas has rendered a decision that the 
“pawnshop ordinance is constitutional”. Similiar 
laws are being- prepared in New York, Chicago, San 
Francisco and other large cities. 


No business concern would like to ask its custom¬ 
ers to allow the ten digits to be printed with ink, for 
it is a messy, dirty job requiring too long a period to 
complete. But to request that the left index finger 
be printed as a precaution against error or fraud, is not 
at all unreasonable; for it serves as a protection to 
both parties of the transaction. A handy gasoline 
rag will remove all traces of the ink in a few seconds. 
It is not always necessary to use ink for taking im¬ 
pressions. If a little oil is placed upon a blotter, and 
the finger rolled on the blotter first, and then robed 
on the place for the finger print, the ridges will leave 
a mark which can be made plain to the eye by dusting 
with graphite, or some black powder having a foun¬ 
dation of prepared chalk. Some sensitized papers are 
on the market that do away with the use of ink. But 
for a lasting permanent record ink is recommended. 


One complete set of the Crosskey Identification 
Charts will provide for the registration of more than 
5,352 000 different finger prints. This you will agree 
allows for a large volume of business, especially 
as each one of these fingers will have a separate and 
distinct classification of its own; for this system is 
based upon a numerical progression that is easily 
learned, and applied, once the patterns are familiar 
to the operator. 


As a practical, inexpensive means of positive iden- 


COMMERCIAL ADAPTION 


27 


tiiication with a minimum of labor, this system is 
adaptable to any business that wishes to be confident 
ot a scientific identification. The compactness of 
the tiling case, combined with the ease and quickness 
with which the charts will complete an identification, 
makes this system a valuable aid in the transaction of 
any business. The filing- case occupies less than one 
square yard of floor space. 


The only instruments required to take finger im¬ 
pressions are, a small roller, printers ink, a piece of 
glass to roll the ink upon, and white paper or light¬ 
weight Bristol Board. The card in general use in an 
identification bureau are of uniform size 8” x 8”. 
For commercial purposes where one digit suffices, a 
3” x 5” key card will hold all the data that is required 
See Plate No. 2. 

/ 

By looking at Figure No. 3, which is enlarged to 
plainly show the many ridge characteristics, the reader 
may readily see the improbability of a duplication of 
this impression by another person—for any one with a 
little study may quickly become proficient in distin¬ 
guishing the marked difference in the formation of the 
ridges even when the patterns look alike to the un¬ 
trained observer. 


The Single Finger Print Identification System 
will give the same results with one finger as may be 
obtained from a ten fingered print. It takes less 
time and less work. Nor does it necessitate a large 
equipment or expensive outfit to install a practical 
and consistent system. The simplicity in which it 
is operated combined with its scientific accuracy,pla¬ 
ces a utility for the prevention of fraud within easy 
reach. If the nine patterns and their 36 segregat- 


28 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


ions are learned the charting and filing can be attend¬ 
ed to by any filing clerk. 


In order to secure a consistent system, it is nec¬ 
essary that the same finger be printed of all persons. 
As the left index finger contains the largest variety 
of patterns, it is recommended that this be the finger 
used. In case where the left index finger has been 
amputated, the right index can be substituted. By 
placing a small letter “ r ” in front of the symbol let¬ 
ter of the pattern, it will be plain that it is the class¬ 
ification of the right index; viz. rU. rR. rW. 
rCP. rLP. rTL. rA. rT. 


The adapation of the single finger print is a 
social necessity to knit the nation into a more complete 
whole, for there will then be no more unknown per¬ 
sons. Society at heart is fundamentally sound. As 
a righteous and moral person has nothing to fear from 
an established identification, the deprecation that is 
heaped upon the advocates of finger printing by peo¬ 
ple who do not stop to think how useful to Society 
universal finger printing can be, makes one believe 
that these persons must have axes of their own to 
grind in attempting to condemn Finger Print utiliza¬ 
tion. 


In the year 1920-1921 there were over 70,000 
missing persons in the United States. Had a finger 
print been on file, a majority of these people would 
not have joined the “Flotsam and Jetsam” of the under¬ 
wood. Finger prints would curb and cure this social 
waste. Take the many cases of Aphasia that occur 
each year, with but one finger print of a victim on 
file, an identification could be made, and the sufferer 
restored to a sorrowing family, to be given the personal 


COMMERCIAL ADAPTION 


29 


attention that these cases need. And so we could 
continue and find where finger prints are a distinct 
social asset, that is not utilized with the good that may 
be accomplished in mind.. 




SINGLE FINGER PRINT 
IDENTIFICATION 


It has been estimated that 60 % of all finger im¬ 
pressions are loop patterns. As there is no provision 
made for the identification of these loops as a unit, 
it is plain that the finger print expert’s task grows 
just 60 r /c larger each day, and his efficiency will be 
impaired to the extent of the number of finger impres¬ 
sions that are in the file which cannot be identified. 


When a crime has been committed, science lends 
us an efficient aid by supplying means whereby any 
finger print may be looked for and iound. As it is 
very rare that a full set of finger prints may be located 
at such times, the operator has a tremendous task 
to make an identification from a single finger print. 
Very often it is only after weeks of hard work in 
searching the files that an identification can be made. 
Then it is too late to be of use. Time has erased many 
things that could have been gathered as evidence. 
Whereas, if the identification could have been quickly 
made, strong support would have been secured, and 
legal evidence gathered that would have aided justice 
in its course. 



CLASSIFICATION 


31 


As the Ulnar and Radial Loops predominate in 
the file, they form the weakest link in the chain of 
identification, because of the difficulty in locating 
any certain finger print of that type. But with The 
Single Finger Print Identification System installed as 
an auxiliary to the file, any single finger print can be 
located in a few minutes. Thus, the efficiency of the 
operator is placed at the highest peak of usefulness. 


As an example, let us suppose we are working with 
a file containing 50,000 finger print cards. Using 
round figures for brevity. On a 60% ratio, the file 
will contain approximately, 32,500 Ulnar and Radial 

Loops. 


If the identification of a single finger print of 
these loops is needed, the chances of finding that par¬ 
ticular finger print can be estimated as being about 
32,500 to 1 (one). 


By using this system, this 32,500 chance is nar¬ 
rowed down to a certainty; if ordinary care is used 
in classifying and working the system herein set 

forth. 


As an illustration of the service this system will 
perform for an identification bureau, we will analyze 
how this 32,500 to 1 (one) chance can be narrowed 
down to a certainty. 


In the first place, the Ulnar and Radial Loops 
are divided by classification into two (2) major 
groups of right and left slope loops. This segregation 
makes almost an even division of the loop pattern. In 


32 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


testing this division of the loops with 10,000 finger 
print cards, exactly four more Radial loops were found 
over the number of Ulnar loops. 


The second step is the division of the two major 
groups into seven (7) minor groups, by observing the 
individual characteristics developed by each pattern. 
A larger subdivision could be made in this manner, but 
it was not found necessary. 


The actual figures of the chance of finding any 
particular loop in the 50,000 finger print cards was 

32,500 to 1. 

* 

The major division reduced the chance to half 
of that number: 


16,250 to 1. 

The seven subdivisions further reduce the 16,250 
to 1 chance to 


2,32112 to 1 


Then by using the Crosskey Identification Charts, 
which give 900 separate and distinct zones in which 
to place each finger print, the 2 , 3211/2 to 1, chance 
is further reduced to 

2.58 to 1. 

Less than three to one. Considering the chances 
that were against finding that one finger print and 
the manner in which the pattern has been narrowed 


CLASSIFICATION 


33 


down so as to make identity easier; the three to one 
chance is a certainty, n that print was in the tile under 
search. For upon taking out the correct chart and 
locking in the proper vertical coLaim, the key will be 
found that will give the classification of the right set 
of prints to take out of the file, so that the necessary 
comparison could be made and the identification 
completed. 


As all sets of finger prints are classified so as to 
obtain a working hypothesis, it has been found expe¬ 
dient to commence the single finger print identification 
S 3 -stem where the operator finishes the regular class¬ 
ification. So useless repetition of the well covered 
field of instruction in the patterns will not occupy our 
attention here,—for the benefit of those w 7 ho do not 
know the patterns, they are included in another part 
of this w 7 ork — we will make our start from that point 
in this chapter. 


This system is not so complex or intricate that it 
will take a long tedious study to apply. On the con¬ 
trary anyone well versed in reading the patterns can 
become proficient in operating and using this system 
after a few hours practice with a few prints. Any 
expert classifier w 7 ho will follow 7 these instructions, 
will be able to operate the Crosskey Identification 
Charts quickly, and with accuracy, with but little 
practice upon the extra work, which only requires 
a few^ more minutes to be spent upon any set of finger 
prints. After a short practice the author found that 
the time taken for this extra work averaged less than 
five minutes for a set of fiinger prints. 


For the purpose of simplicity, and also to provide 



34 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


for the quickest method of identification of the loop 
patterns, all loops are divided into two types. The 
right slope loop and the left slope loop. Figure 2 
and 3. The division of the loops into the regular 
four types, right hand Ulnar and Radial; and left hand 
Ulnar and Radial; so as to allow a full classification 
of the ten digits, is explained under the heading of 
“Regular Classification.” 




Figure No. 2. Figure No. 3. 

It does not matter upon which hand a loop is 
found, it will come under one of the two major groups 
of the loops, and be either a right slope loop or a left 
slope loop, just as found upon either hand for the 
charting purposes of this system. 


When the charting classification is completed, the 
key number of the print is placed in the proper zone, 
or square, of the identification chart carrying the first 
and second part of the classification for its heading. 


As the loops comprise the largest group of the 
patterns, it has been deemed advisable to make the 





CLASSIFICATION 


35 


largest segregation among the loop patterns; and so 
allow the greatest possible expasion of this system 
which would make it adaptable to the large size files, 
C id be a real working auxiliary for the finger print 
expert 


It has been estimated that the percentage of the 
different types cf patterns are: Loops 60 per cent; 
Whorls and Composites 35 per cent; Arches 5 per cent. 
Accidentals are not counted as they appear so rarely. 
Out of 50,000 fingers that were tabulated by Scotland 
Yard, only 61 were Accidentals. 


So the Loops are segregated into seven sub-divi¬ 
sions. More can be made if w 7 anted - it depends upon 
the size of the file. Each sub-division is based upon 
the individual characteristics that are found in the 
core of the patterns. Which usually show on an object 
that has been clasped, or upon anything that the 
fingers have rested upon in a natural manner. A 
hrge number of illustrations have been supplied of 
the different types so as to make them clear in the 
reader’s mind. 


These segregations do not in any way interfere 
with the regular classification of any print, as the 
inventor of this system has endeavored to keep as 
close to the “Henry System” as possible, for by making 
the tw-o systems dovetail in the shiniest manner, the 
efficiencv of both v 7 ould be enhanced to the identifica¬ 
tion profession. 


Figure 4 is a right slope loop that has a single 
rod for its inner terminus. So the symbol R. 1 (one), is 
placed in the upper left hand corner of the print, for 


36 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


the rod makes this type of loop fall into the second 
sub-division of the loops- It matters not where the rod 
starts as long as it does not touch the axis of the loop, 
it v 111 come under the category of the second segrega¬ 
tion. The capital letter is for the pattern, and the 
numeral, 1, showing there is a single rod within the 
core. 



Figure No. 4. 

This rod almost formed an island - had it done so, 
it would have made this loop fall into the R. i., 
division. As the top point of this rod is the inner 
terminus, the first count is commenced from that point. 
The outer terminus, at the delta, is a small dot very 
close to the outside ridge. Counting between these two 
points six ridges are found to intervene. This number 
is placed in the upper right hand corner of the print. 
Fig. 4. 

The third part of the classification is had by 
tracing the delta line to a point vertically under the 
point of the rod that marks the inner terminus, then 
counting down to the flexure of the phalanx—omitting 
to count the delta line; but starting the count on the 


CLASSIFICATION 


37 























1 


i 



s 






































• 








































































































































































































































1 
























































x 

























































n i 
! 








> 







































✓ 










































_ 


















" 




























































































































• 














































































































































































— 


— 












































































Plate 


o 

O 

























































































































































































38 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 




Figure No. 5. 


Figure No. 6. 


line below the delta line. There are 19 ridges interven¬ 
ing between these two points, so the numeral 19 is plac¬ 
ed in the lower left hand corner, Fig. 5. 


Then commencing at the point o F the rod that 
marks f he inner ter ninus, a third count is made down 
to the flexure of the phalanx. It is 24. So the 
numerals 24 is rlaced in the lower right hand corner 
of the print, and the classification is completed. Fig.6. 


To write the classification so that it may be plainly 
understood, the symbols and figures should always be 
written in the sa’^e order as the operations are made 
to make the classification: R,l./6/19/24. 


If the following order is adhered to when classify¬ 
ing, and also when a classification is written as a 
description, there will be no possibility of confusion 
when using this system: 





CLASSIFICATION 


39 


First operation. 


The symbol of the pattern is 
written in the upper left corner. 

Second operation: 

The first count is taken from 
the inner terminus to nearest delta, and 
the result is written in the upper right 
corner. 

Third operation: 

The second count is made from 
the delta line to the flexure, and the 
result is written in the lower le t hand 
corner. 

✓ 

Fourth operation: 

The third count is made from 
the inner terminus to the flexure, and 
the result is written in the lower right 
hand corner. 


To file this classification so that it will be available 
when wanted, the identification chart marked Pw, 1., in 
the left corner, with the numeral 6 in the right corner; 
is taken from the file. By counting over to the 19th 
vertical column, and down to the 24th horizontal line, 
the right zone is found wherein the key number is 
placed. Plate. 3. 

Every fifth line on the identification charts are 
heavy dark lines which makes it easy to locate 
any particular number of line wanted. 


40 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The three counts, and the description R, 1., give 
four separate and distinct starting points whereby 
any finger print can be identified. If one, or two, of 
these points are absent, or do not show clearly upon 
any latent, or plain impression; there is still one or 
more points that will constitute a starting place to 
work from to find the right set of prints to make a 
comparison with. 


By keeping the last count on the horizontal line 
throughout the charts, it will be round possible to 
accelerate the search. If the delta is missing, it can be 
guessed at, and by looking on the charts around the 
number indicated, the same horizontal line receives 
attention all the way through the search - for, as a 
general rule, the third count will be made easier than 
the other two counts. The methods used are fully 
described in another part of this book. 


The foregoing rules covering the three counts are 
applied to all loops. It was found that if the loops 
were charted as they look upon the paper, right or 
left slope loops, and to disregard the changing of names 
in the right hand loops; this method would cqua’r e the 
loops in the files, and eliminate a large number of 
charts that would otherwise have to be handled in this 
system, if the right hand Ulnar and Radial, and left 
hand Ulnar and Radial Loops were retained. Also it 
does away with having to consult unnecessary charts 
that would take up time when making a search. 


Care must be taken to avoid mistakes in charting 
the right hand loops. So it is recommended that the 
symbol be always placed in the upper left hand corner 
of the prints before making the three counts for chart¬ 
ing. 



Figure No. 7. Figure No. 8. 


SINGLE FINGER 


CLASSIFICATION. 


Segregating the Loops. 


Every pattern is subject to differentiation. This 
difference in each pattern is readily perceived by the 
trained eye, and can be easily learned by anyone who 
will study the fundamentals of finger print classifi¬ 
cation, as laid down in the many instruction books 
that have helped make finger printing universal in 
its application, and a confident medium of scientific 
identification. 


This system is not concerned as to which hand 
any loop pattern may be found upon, for it divides the 
loop into two types. The right slope loop, and the 
left slope loop. The first loop slopes to the right 
hand side, and the second loop slopes to the left hand 
side, as the impression appears upon the paper. The 



42 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


symbols used are R and \ for the right slope, and U 
and / for the left slope. 


For classifying purposes, it is thought best to re¬ 
tain the same letters to indicate the loops as used in 
“The Henry System” in obtaining the full reading of 
the ten digits. It will avoid confusion. One of the 
first things to memorize for using the Single Finger 
Print Identification System, is that the letter “R” 
or the symbol \ indicates a right slope loop; and the 
letter “U”, or the symbol ' indicates a left slope loop. 


When classifying a full print for both systems, it 
will be found best to make up the regular reading first. 
The loop counts for inner and outer, and also the little 
finger counts, can be placed over on the right hand cor¬ 
ner of the print, instead of the center as is customary. 
These counts will then be in the proper position, and 
available for the single finger classification. 


In order that the readers may familiarize them¬ 
selves with the various loop segregations, an assort¬ 
ment of loops is given with a sketchy analysis of a few, 
so that there is a guide to make the distinctions clear. 
These are not picked illustrations, but are taken just 
as they came before the author in the course of the 
day’s work. Also the number of illustrations have not 
been limited to just the principal types, but a large 
variety have been diagramed so that the basic princi¬ 
ples could be learned quickly. 


As the inventor of this system, the author is try¬ 
ing to make as few rules as possible, believing that 
simplicity in operation is the best advocate to popular¬ 
ize any idea. So if the main points of these seven 


SEGREGATING THE LOOPS 


43 


types are depended upon when classifying, the system 
will soon prove its value to the operator. 



Figure No. 9. 


Figure No. 10. 


Figure 9 at first glance appears to be two loops 
superimposed at the axis of the loop. It is the 
core on the second loop, which causes this pecu- 
larity, being of an extra large size that almost 
amounts to an island. The inner terminus is the upper 
part of the short loop in the core of the pattern. The 
outer terminus is the line running into the first ridge, 
near the drawn counting line. This is a type of 
delta that can be controversial. So if this pattern was 
registered on the twentieth chart, no finger print 
expert would be satisfied with looking on the ninteenth 
chart alone in order to find it if wanted. 


As the ridge that would be termed the delta line, 
is a short one, the counter drops off its end, on to the 
line below, and the second count is made with that line 
acting as the delta line. Four is the result. Then 
counting from the core to the flexure of the phalanx 
a third count of 19 is had. The classification, if writ¬ 
ten, would read: R/20/4/19. 




44 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Figure 10 has a core that almost forms an island. 
If the short upper ridge had joined its lower side, it 
would have placed this pattern into the “I” division. On 
the second ridge, above the inner terminus, there is an 
island. But it is so small that had the ink on the pad 
been heavier, it may have shown as a thickening of 
the ridge at that point. As it is doubtful that this 
characteristic will always show so clearly, the island is 
disregarded, and the impression is placed into the first 
division of R. The first count is 20, the second count 


is 6 and the third count 20. Reading R/20/6/20. 

When making the second and third counts a quick 
way was found by combining the two counts into one 
operation — if a standard glass with a wire or hair 
counting line is used. Place the glass with counting 
line in a vertical position with the inner terminus. With 
the counter, follow the delta line to the counting line 
of the glass, and make the second count; mentally fix 
its number in mind. Then place the point of the 
counter on the delta line, start the third count by in¬ 
cluding the delta line and up to the inner terminus. 


Add the two totals, and the third count is had. 

Looking at figure 6, which has a line in this posi¬ 
tion ; and following the delta line to the vertical line and 
then counting down to the flexure, we find 19 ridges 
intervening, then placing the point of the counter on 
the delta line, which is counted as one (1), we find 5 
ridges between that point and the inner terminus. 
Adding 5 and 19, the third count is 24. The second 
count is 19. 


The first thing that attracts the eye on figure 11 
is the scar at left of pattern. As it is not directly in 
the center of the pattern, it is best not to classify it 


SEGREGATING THE LOOPS 


i5 


as a scarred type, for it may not show on a plain im¬ 
pression. So it is given the U classification, read¬ 
ing U/2/10/14. 



Figure No. 11. Figure No. 12. 


Figure 12 is a plain loop of the left type, reading 
U/19/5/20. 



Figure No. 13. Figure No. 14. 

Figure 13 is another pattern that could be placed 
in some other segregation. It has a scar that is 
plainly discernable on a rolled impression. But 
as there is a large doubt whether this scar would show 
on a plain impression, it is advisable to place it in the 
first division of the R. Making the count from the 
inner terminus to the dot on the delta, v hich represents 
the outer terminus, a count of 14 is found, a second 





46 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


count of ten, and a third count of 20 makes a reading 
of K/14/10/20. 



Figure No. 15. Figure No. 16. 


Figure 15 is an easy type to identify. For it 
has no less than four inclosures and 9 forks within 
the pattern proper. Notice how r the line runs through 
one of the inclosures, adding one to the count of the 
ridges. These will be referred to later. 


The small islands on the inner loop of figure 16 
are not large enough to place reliance upon for a sci¬ 
entific identification, for with slightly heavier ink, 
thev might form an enlarged ridge at these points. 
U/16/8/19. 



Figure No. 17. Figure No. IS. Figure No. 19. 






SEGREGATING THE LOOPS 


47 


All counting, with the exception of the second 
count, is referred to as being from the inner terminus, 
or core. It is well to fix this point in mind as it 
comes very handy to the operator later on as an un¬ 
derstanding of the system comes to anyone. 


The second segregation is also a very easy one to 
define. Any loop that has one ( 1 ) rod within the 
core, divides the type into the U.I., or R.I., sub-division 
See figure 5. 



Figure No. 20. Figure No. 21. Figure No. 22. 


Figure 20 has a rod that makes a distinct break 
before touching the upper side of the loop. Thus 
making it independent of the loop, and placing it 
automatically into the It- 1., segregation. The 5th 
and 7th ridges, counting from the inner terminus, bif¬ 
urcate, making inclosures that are very prominent. 
If one of these inclosures were on the rod in center, 
it would place this pattern in the Island division. 
The line in this illustration is placed higher than it 
should be so that these characteristics could be plain. 
For they constitute an important point in making an 
identification, as will be shown later on in this work. 







48 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Figure 21 has a short rod for an inner terminus, 
and a dot at the delta for the outer terminus. The 
short rod at the core makes an abrupt break at each 
end. If it had run into the loop, which would have 
easily happened, had the ink been thick upon the pad, 
an enclosure would have been formed that would 
have placed the impression into the R. 1., division 
There is also a noticable scar, but as it is doubtful 
that the scar would show on a plain impression, it is 
wisest to class it as a R. 1., type. 



Figure No. 23. Figure No. 24. Figure No. 25. 


A very plain type is figure 22. The outer term¬ 
inus is the small ridge or delta. As this short line 
makes an abrupt ending before reaching the point 
vertically under the core, when making the count, 
the pointer drops off this abrupt end on to the ridge 
below, which is followed to its end, where the count 
is started to the flexure. 


There is a faint scar showing on figure 23, but 
it is too thinly marked to cause this pattern to be 
placed in the scarred division. The delta is the 
short ridge that ends abruptly before the center of 
the pattern is reached. So the ridge is followed to 
the counting position, and a count of 9 is obtained. 




SEGREGATING THE LOOPS 


49 





Figure No. 26. 


Figure No. 27. 


Figure No. 28. 


It is very important to make the third count ver¬ 
tically under the inner terminus. The third counts are 
all placed on one line of the charts, which is a large 
help in making searches. For having the one line 
established, there is no need to go up and down the 
chart, for if not on one chart, the same position is 
looked at on the next chart. When a delta count 
cannot be ascertained, and its number has to be guess¬ 
ed, by only having the one horizontal line to consider, 
a large amount of work is avoided. After making a 
few searches, the operator will find this rule a well 
established benefit that expedites the work. 


If the counting line is shifted a little each side, 
a different count will be had each time. This is due 
to the ending or bifurcation of some of the ridges as 
they run out of the pattern. 


An impression like figure 23 is easily located at 
any time. In lifting latents of this type, over 90% 
will show a complete pattern, which, if on record, will 
be identified in a few minutes. 







50 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Figure 28 has a complex appearance at the core, 
and requires a close scrutiny to determine which rod 
is the inner terminus. On the fourth ridge just above 
the tracing line, a small inclosure appears, which gives 
this pattern an easy, distinctive point for identification. 





Figure No. 29. Figure No. 30. Figure No. 31. 

The third segregation is made by placing all loops 
that have two rods, within the smallest loop, into the 
U. 2., or R. 2., sub-division- When making the counts on 
this type the inner terminus is the point of the rod far¬ 
thest from the delta. Figure 32 has a short rod, 
bifurcating from the upper side of the loop. Ilad it 
continued and joined the loop again, it would have 
made an inclosure, and placed this pattern into the 
island class. On the lower side of the loop, are two 
islands, but they are two small to place reliance upon, 
as heavy ink would only show a thickened ridge. So 
the rods are observed as being the most distinctive 
points, and the pattern is put into the R. 2., division. 
Reading R. 2.,/20/9/24. 


Figure 33 has a very short rod running from the 
central rod in the center of the loops. As it is so 
pronounced, and stops short of bifurcating the loop, 




SEGREGATING THE LCCPS 


51 



Figure No. 34. Figure No. 35. Figure No. 36. 


as well as the long rod having a decided termination 
before reaching the axis of the loop, the tops of the 
two rods form the most noticable point; thus placing 
this pattern in the R. 2-, division. Rack of the delta 
is a small star-like scar. This could be used in making 
an identification by wire, as later explained. 


Figure 38 has an island on the upper ridge, close 
to the axis of the loop, but it is too small for practical 
purpo: es. So the slightly curved ridges in the center 
of the core place this pattern in the R. 2., division. 
Reading, R. 2./5/8/13. 











52 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 




Figure No. 37. 


Figure No. 38 




Figure No. 39. 


Figure No. 40. 


Figure No. 41. 



There is what looks like an attempt to make a 
rough cross on figure 40. This is caused by a shrink¬ 
age of the skin, that is known as a crease, for it leaves 
a furrow, or depression across the ridges. People who 
keep their hands in caustic waters for long periods, and 
mechanics using gasoline, are most frequently subject 
to these shrinkages. A scar of a cut will leave a some 
what similar mark, but the difference between a crease 
and a scar are easily detected. The ridges of a cut 
rarely heal straight, whereas a crease does not effect 
the contour of the ridges at all. On page No. 62 are 
examples of both scars and creases. 





SEGREGATING THE LOOPS 


53 


As a ci ease can be impressed by temporary causes 
it is best to ignore them when classifying. So instead 
of placing figure 40 in the scarred, sub-division, it is 
placed in the third class and reads U. 2./12/4/16. 



Figure No. 42 Figure No. 43. Figure No. 44. 


The fourth segregation is made by placing all 
loops that have three or more rods inside the smallest 
loop, mto U.x., or R.x-, sub-division. As long as there 
are more than two rods, the pattern belongs to the x 
type. Sometimes the rods will run straight up into 
the axis of the loop, again, others will be found that 
have three or more rods independent of the loop. So 
long as three or more ridges appear within the small¬ 
est loop, the pattern is placed in the “x” class. 


Figure 42 is a very distinctive loop. Clearly show¬ 
ing three rods in the center of the pattern. The num¬ 
erous bifurcations, forks, islands and inclosures, give 
it a determined characterization — all of which assist 
in identification. The middle rod is the inner terminus, 
and 'he outer terminus is the small bifurcation at delta. 
Making the first count, eighteen ridges are found. On 
the fifth ridge is an inclosure. If the counting line 
is accurately placed, it will fall across the upper fork 
that causes the two ridges at this point , but the 








54 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


(fork does not count as two, as it only shows a thick¬ 
ened ridge at the point where the line crosses. Count¬ 
ing from delta line to the flexure, are four ridges, 
and the third count gives a total of 20. So the class¬ 
ification reads R.X./18/4/20. 


On taking the third count, notice the twelfth and 
thirteenth ridges — counting from the inner terminus 
the vertical line touches a fork of each of these ridges 
that branches to the left of that position. It is the 
observation of such details that mark the difference 
between the mediocre operator and the expert. Only 
by training the eye to distinguish these little, visible 
characteristics, that are manifest upon all patterns, 
can anyone hope to become other than an amateur 
in the science of finger printing. 


The most noticable feature, outside the core of 
figure 43, is the island on the fourth ridge over the 
inner terminus. The core possesses an idiosyncrasy 
that is distinctly individual, and rarely seen. It is not 
difficult to decide which is the inner terminus. There 
is a count of 20, a second count of 3, and a third count 
of 15. Making a classification that reads R.X./20/3/15. 
Although this pattern is distinctive in minutiae and 
readily found if wanted, it is a type that is extremely 
difficult to pick up in latent form, owing to the prox¬ 
imity of the ridges, which is a difficulty that is not 
observed with an inked impression of this type. 


Figure 44 has no less than four rods, one of them 
bisecting the loop. Its most noticable feature is the 
tendency of the ridges to fork. There are nine sep¬ 
arate and distinct forks in less than one square half 
inch. 


SEGREGATING THE LOOPS 


55 


U.X./5/9/14 show two rods bisecting figure 45, 
and figure 46 shows another pattern which is distinc¬ 
tive by the number of forks it contains. On the first 
rod from the inner terminus, is a well formed island, 
also the fifth ridge contributes two of the same details; 
thus making individual an otherwise plain pattern. 


The fifth sub-division is made by segregating all 
the loops that have a large island, or inclosure, in the 
immediate vicinity of the core, into one class. Which 
for brevity, is termed, the island type, and indicated 
by U.i., or R.i. 



Figure No. 45. Figure No. 46. Figure No. 47. 




Figure No. 50. 


Figure No. 48. 


Figure No. 49. 









56 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Figure No. 51. 


Care should be used so that the very small islands 
are not included in this sub-division, for, as stated, if 
the ink is placed heavily on the inking pad, a blurred 
impression will most probably be the result. This 
finer distinction of the islands, is one part of the 
classifyer’s work in which personal judgement has to 
be entirely relied upon. 

Any dilettanti can dabble in a science. Nor does 
it require a great knowledge to find a one over one 
classification, when the patterns are all clear types. 
But the expert is the one, who, by close attention to 
detail, is able to immediately exercise his own judg¬ 
ment, and, in 99% of his cases, be authentic in his 
statements. 



Figure No. 52. Figure No. 53. Figure No. 54. 






SEGREGATING THE LOOPS 


57 


Figure 52 is a pronounced island type, for it has 
two inclosures. One on each ridge of the innermost 
loop. r l here are also four more inclosures on this 
pattern but they are too remote to notice in defining 
its class. One is on the seventh ridge below the count¬ 
ing line, another is above the line on the same ridge. 
The inner terminus is on the lower side of the largest 
inclosure, making a count of 13. The second count 
is three and a third count of 12 gives a classification 
of R.L/13/3/12. 


The inclosure on figure 53 is very plain. Although 
the innermost loop breaks at the axis, no one would 
make the mistake of placing this pattern in any other 
than the 1 division. The inner terminus is the short 
end above the inclosure, and the dot at the delta is 
the outer terminus. The delta line is a short one, so 
recourse is had to the line below. The classification 
reads R. i./ll/8/17. 


The inner terminus on figure 54 is at the point 
where the center ridge bisects the loop, which gives 
a reading of R. i.,/15/4/18. 



Figure No. 55. 


Figure No. 56. 


Figure No. 57. 









58 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Figure No. 58. Figure No. 59. Figure No. 60. 


It will be observed that the first counting line is 
drawn above the two smaller inclosures on figure 58. 
As the center inclosure is on a ridge that terminates 
its course before bisecting at the axis of the loop, the 
inner terminus is at the fork of the largest inclosure 
thus making a count of 14. 

Figure 55 is an easy distinctive type. The forking 
of the second and third ridges enable it to be known 
in a quick glance. Above the axis of the core, heavy 
ink has obliterated the ridges. This is caused by not 
rolling the ink enough when it is placed upon the pad. 
The thinner, and smoother, the ink is rolled; the 
finer the film is made for the finger to be placed in 
for inking, the more satisfactory will be the impres¬ 
sion that will be obtained. 



Figure No. 61. Figure No. 62. 





SEGREGATING THE LOOPS 


59 


Figure 61 has a small scar that gives a good 
contrasting point in what is otherwise, a plain impres¬ 
sion w r ith very little individuality. The most distin¬ 
ctive detail being the short bifurcating ridge between 
the eight and ninth ridges. 


The fifth division of the loops is made by placing 
all loops that are difficult to define as belonging to 
the other segregations, into a separate class. There 
are a large number of loops with ridges running criss, 
cross with each other, that present individual idio¬ 
syncrasies which make these patterns subject to 
controversy. 


The International Association for Identification 
showed, by appointing a committee to decide upon 
patterns at the 1921 Convention, how desirable it is 
to avoid making distinctions in the patterns that are 
likely to cause a difference of opinion. For by so 
doing, a system that has taken years to build is retard¬ 
ed in its work. This committee’s work is the most 
constructive step made by the Association in its 
history. 


As stated on page 14, the present system, general¬ 
ly known as “The Henry System”, is well founded and 
thoroughly rooted in practical use. It w T ould be ex¬ 
tremely inconsiderate of the splendid results that are 
daily produced by it, to make arbitrary rulings that 
would in any way effect the general principles upon 
which the system is built. To add to it, or by clari¬ 
fying differences of opinion on debatable points, is to 
add constructive measures that will help everyone en¬ 
gaged in using the system. For this purpose, the 


60 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


author has kept the segregations within limits, so the 
Single Finger Print Identification System can be a real 
auxiliary to any file. 


This system provides a subdivision to care for the 
loops that have complex cores, which cannot be defined 
as belonging to any of the other six subdivisions. 
The illustrations presented to show this type are not, 
by any means, fixing the shape that a pattern has to 
assume before going into this class of segregation. It 
is established for any kind of a loop that does not be¬ 
long in one of the other six divisions. U. z., and R. z. 
will indicate any of these complex types. 


The individual characterizations in the formation 
that the ridges may assume, make this type of loop an 
easy subject for identification. As the reader, by at¬ 
tention to the partial analysis made of the preceding- 
types, has now a good knowledge of finding the dis¬ 
tinctive features of a pattern, there is no need to point 
out the peculiarities of the illustrations of the U,z., 
and the K,z., subdivisions. 




SEGREGATING THE WHORIS 


61 







Figure No. 66. 


Figure No. 67. 


Figure No. 68. 



The seventh and last segregation is made by plac¬ 
ing all the scarred loops into a subdivision indicated 
by placing the small letter “s” after the capital letter: 
U,s., or R,s. If the scar upon a rolled impression 
looks as if it is doubtful that it will show on a plain 
impresion, it should not be placed in this subdivision, 
but should be placed in the class indicated by the pat¬ 
tern at the core. The following illustrations of nine 
scarred patterns will present a guide for this subdi¬ 
vision. 


The eight creased patterns are show n to familiar¬ 
ize the reader with the creased type of impression. 
But they should not be included in the scarred subdi¬ 
vision, as the creases may be of a temporary nature 
only. 


It will be noticed that the termination of the ridges 
in a creased pattern are straight, and abrupt at the 
crease \ whereas, the end ot the ridges at a scai show 
a slight curvature, clearly making a distinction that is 
easily discerned. 






62 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Plate 4 









SINGLE FINGER 
CLASSIFICATION. 


Segregating the Whorls 


Following the Loops, the largest number of pat¬ 
terns are known as Whorls. So named because the 
formation of the ridges circle around, and around, get¬ 
ting smaller as they reach the center, or core, of the 
pattern. 


The difference between the Whorl, the Twinned 
Loop, or a Lateral Pocket Loop, is a large one that is 
easily discerned. As the Composites are given the 
same numerical value as the Whorls, when ascertain¬ 
ing I he primary classification for a full print, it has 
become a common practice with some classifiers to 
place the “W” symbol under all the Composite pat¬ 
terns. This cannot be continued if this system is to 
be an efficient aid to an Identification Bureau. 









64 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The margin of difference between these patterns 
is a wide one, so there is no excuse for a continuation 
of the above practice, if this system is to be suceessful- 
\y utilized, so that results may be had—which is what 
all are looking for. The Whorls and Composites will 
have to be separated into different segregations and 
subdivisions so that the attention to detail is justified. 


The distinctions that are made in separating the 
Whorls, are as simple as could be chosen, and require 
but little practice to enable anyone to place each type 
into its proper sub-division, 6 in number. 


All the Whorls are indicated by the “W” symbol, 
which is followed by a small numeral or letter to de¬ 
fine the proper subdivision—except the natural Whorl, 
which is always indicated by the “W” symbol alone. 
By placing the “W” first, the major group is shown, 
with the minor group, or sub-division, being indicated 
by the small numeral, or small letter. The six divisions 
are: 


1st, the round Whorl, indicated by the symbol ‘W\ 
2nd, the single spiral Whorl indicated by ‘W.l\ 
3rd, the double spiral Whorl indicated by ‘W.2\ 
4th, the elliptical Whorl indicated by ‘W.e’. 

5th, the very large w horl indicated by W.L. 


6th, the scarred Whorl indicated by ‘W.s\ 

The most important feature of a Whorl in the 
“Henry System,” is the left delta. According to its posB 


SEGREGATING THE WHORLS 


65 


tion on the index finger, the sub-classification is made. 
This rule is a binding one in making up a complete 
classification of the ten fingers. 


But as the Single Finger Print Identification 
System tries to get as many points as possible to work 
j.ro .11 on a finger impression, and knowing the full val¬ 
ue these working features can be, if they are all to be 
found upon a plain impression; the left delta is dis¬ 
regarded when classifying for this system. The nearest 
delta to the core, is the main, and fixed point in Whorls 
and Composites to be used in this system. 


It matters not, what the position may be of the 
left delta, when classifying a Whorl to chart in this 
system. The nearest delta to the core, or inner ter¬ 
minus, of a Whorl, is the fixed point that co nmands 
the counting position. 


So the reader is certain of this position, lines are 
drawn upon the illustrations to show where the three 
counts are taken. Also a somewhat sketchy analysis 
of the Whorls shown herein. The question may 
arise, why analyze at all? We know a loop is a loop 
and a Whorl is a Whorl. But if you are trying to 
identify a person who is thousands of miles away by 
one finger alone—you want to be sure that your iden¬ 
tification is certain. To be certain it must be scien¬ 
tific. To be scientific is to give only facts. 


This system is not giving you colors, features, 
age, height, weight, or lengths of certain parts of the 
body—that is a lot of useless clerical work. It is giv¬ 
ing you a means to identify any person with the small¬ 
est known amount of work attached that has ever been 


66 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


devised. For if you have one finger print of a person, 
and you know which finger that impression has been 
taken from, you can identify that person at the other 
side of the world by using the Single Finger Print 
Identification System, and be confident that you are 
right in your identification. 


We do not have to make a complete analysis of all 
the illustrations, to learn the method whereby this is 
attained. Were a full description of each illustration 
attempted, this work would stretch into a tiresome 
volume. So the inventor has undertaken to condense 
the analysis of such illustrations as required, to give 
the reader a thorough understanding of the system, 
with an economy of words almost amounting to parsi¬ 
mony. 


The reader will also find it advantageous to fa¬ 
miliarize the eye with the details referred to, as they 
are gradually training the eye to observe the most im¬ 
portant points that are used to complete identification. 
Which will be thoroughly understood when we reach 
the end of this subject. 


In order to chart and properly index any finger 
print, it is necessary to make three counts. The at¬ 
tributes of the finger patterns are such that, on 
counting the ridges, a number is found which provides 
a geometrical progression that automatically places 
each finger pattern into a different zone of the Identi¬ 
fication charts. Thus enabling any finger print to be 
picked out from among the large number that any file 
contains. 


SEGREGATING THE WHORLS 


67 


There are four operations used to classify any 
single digit. As an additional safeguard, to be used 
for identification by telegraph, or at such times that 
another print cannot be had for comparison. There 
is a fifth operation, which is dealt with at the conclu¬ 
sion of the single finger print identification. 

The four operations are: Deciding what major 
group and which minor division the pattern belongs. 
Making the first count. Making the second count. 
And completing the classification by making a third 
count. Each and every one in its proper position, and 
order. The following order must be observed to give 
consistency to this system: 

First. Decide what pattern, and which subdivi¬ 
sion the print falls under. Then place the 
proper symbols in the upper left corner. 

Second. Count the ridges from the inner terminus 
to the delta in the Loop. If a Whorl, or 
Composite, ascertain which is the nearest del¬ 
ta. Then count the ridges between the inner 
terminus, and the nearest outer terminus 
Place the number of ridges found in the upper 
right corner. 

Third. Follow the delta line that is nearest to 
core, to a position vertically under the inner 
terminus, and count the number of ridges to 
flexure of the phalanx. Place the number 
found in the lower left hand corner. , 

Fourth. Count the ridges from the inner ter¬ 
minus to the flexure of the joint, making sure 
a vertical line is followed. Place the number 
of the ridges found in the lower right hand 
corner. The classification is then completed. 


68 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Observe the lines drawn upon the illustrations. 
The second counting line is placed as close to the third 
line as possible for the purpose of showing the position 
in actual practice, the second count will be taken from 
the bottom part of the vertical third counting line 
under the inner terminus. 



Figure No. 69. Figure No. 70. 


Figure 69 is a Whorl formed by the ridges adopt¬ 
ing a concentric formation. If a line was drawn hori¬ 
zontally across its center, the top part would look as 
if they were half circles, while the bottom half would 
possess an elongated appearance. As the impression 
has more of a circular appearance, it falls into the first 
subdivision of the Whorls. With many bifurcations 
causing the ridges to fork running into the lower part 
of the pattern, the elliptical appearance of the bottom 
half is accounted for, but as the general appearance is 
more circular than otherwise, a W is placed in the up¬ 
per left hand corner. 


The short rod that bifurcates from the left of the 
inner circle, is the inner terminus. The outer terminus 
is the bifurcation of the short ridge at the delta. 
Ridges 5 and 6 fork just above the line drawn for 
marking the first count. As also do 7 and 8, also 11 
and 12, also 13 and 14, thus making the count four 




SEGREGATING THE WHORLS 


69 


more in number than it would have been. A very dis- 
tinclive feature is the small enclosure on the 8th ridge, 
the lerking of the next ridge above the enclosure tends 
to emphasize this detail as a ready point for identifica¬ 
tion. There are no less than 20 forks within the pat¬ 
tern proper. The classification reads W/15/3/18. 



The ridges of figure 70 show an almost perfect 
circle formation, the symmetry being marred in the 
upper quarter by the abrupt endings, and the forking 
of some of the ridges. The most prominent charact¬ 
eristics of the patterns are the dots at core, and each 
delta, and the short ridge that forks from the third rid¬ 
ge. Between the sixth and seventh ridges is a very 
short ridge by itself. This is a detail that posesses a lar¬ 
ge value for comparison, for it is a peculiarity rarely 
met. The many abrupt endings, and forkings, of the 
ridges, make this pattern an easy one for identity. 


A very small rod that bisects the first ridge is the 
inner terminus of figure 71. The dots at deltas’ are 
outer terminus. If we had used the left delta for the 
counting process, the number would of been 19 instead 
of 15 as shown. Also, it is doubtful if the left delta 



70 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


would show on a plain impression. The most noticable 
minutiae of this pattern is a small enclosure on the 
fifjth and sixth ridges, and the abrupt endings of the 
four different ridges between the first counting points. 
The outer terminus is the dot at the right delta. As the 
delta line is short, the counter drops off that line in to 
the line below when tracing the delta line to the ver¬ 
tical point to commence the second count. The class¬ 
ification reads W/15/8/26. 


Figure 72 is what may best be described as a cir¬ 
cular Whorl. It will be observed in the four illus¬ 
trations of the “W” type, that each is different 
from the other. The “W” sub-division is for Whorls 
that have concentric formation, irrespective of forks, 
or bifurcations, or abrupt endings. As long as the 
general curvature is circumflected on a point that acts 
as an inner terminus, it falls into the first sub-division 
of the Whorls and is indicated by the W symbol. 


The line drawn between the two counting points 
runs through three noticable details. Ridges three 
and four is an enclosure, as also seven and eight; 
while nine and ten is a fork. There is an extra large 
space between the 20th and the 21st ridges of the third 
count. Sometimes the space like this takes the ap¬ 
pearance of the flexure between the joints, so care 
must be used when this occurs, that the second and 
third counts are carried to the right of the impression. 
This space is sometimes caused by the cicatrix of a 
cut that was in the center between the two ridges. 


The second sub-division for segregating the 
Whorls is made by placing the single spiral type into 
a class by itself. Then indicated by a small numeral 
one (1) being placed next to the capital letter W, -W,l. 


SEGREGATING THE WHORLS 


71 




Figure No. 73. 


Figure No. 74. 


It is a simple matter to notice the difference be¬ 
tween the plain Whorl of the first sub-division, and 
the single spiral Whorl of the second sub-division. 
The latter has a single short rod in the center of the 
pattern vhich is a part of the first circle. A short 
rod in the W type will not be connected to the circle. 
Sometimes the single contour is broken by returning 
to the same ridge, but if so, usually, the spiral contour 
again starts from the following ridges. If a general 
outline of a pattern is spiral, with a single rod for the 
inner terminus, it will be classed as W,l. 


Figure 73 spirals for three complete turns, end¬ 
ing just above the drawn line between the first count¬ 
ing points. The fourth ridge is a complete circle and 
the spiral starts again on the fifth ridge. The line 
is a little overdrawn. The numerous short ridges, 
just dots some of them, and the fork with the broken 
ends, render this pattern an easy one for comparison. 
The written classification is W,1/10/9/21. 


Taking a transient glance at figure 74 it could 
be mistaken for a Central Pocket Loop. But by tra¬ 
cing two or three ridg'es, the Whorl formation is 



72 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


quickly ascertained. In the last illustration the 
r.ght deka controlled the counting positions, on rigure 
7o the left delta guides the counts, because it is the 
n mrest delta. Aside from the contour of the core, 
the most individual characteristics on this impression 
are the enclosures which makes the third and fourth 
counts. There is also an islet on the fifth ridge, 
while six and seven is another enclosure. The ink 
being rather heavy when this impression was taken, 
its thickness has almost obliterated the enclosures,for, 
to the naked eye, they look like thickened ridges. 





Figure No. 75 


Figure No. 76 a 


The film of ink in which figure 75 was rolled, 
was just the right consistency. It is not the black¬ 
ness of an imprint that is important. But to obtain 
all the ridge details which are upon a finger, so that 
every little line, dot, islet, etc, can be plainly seen 
under a glass, is the important technic when taking 
finger prints. Only by carefully watching the quan¬ 
tity of ink placed upon the pad, and rolling, and roll¬ 
ing it, can a satisfactory print be had. The notable 
features on figure 75 are forks and islets. Ridges 
four and five having one apiece, and six has two close 
together. 



SEGREGATING THE WHORLS 


73 



Figure No. 76. 

Just inside the left delta of figure 76 is a small 
cicatrix caused by a little cut. As it is too small to 
place the pattern into the scarred division, no notice 
is taken of it. For, if picked up as a latent, it is 
doubtful if this mark would be considered a scar. 
The ridges, while firmly well balanced, show strong 
personal traits. _ The fourth ridge has an enclosure, 
which, combined with the many forks and short rid¬ 
ges forming the lower side of the deltas, mark this 
impression as a simple one for comparison. 


The third sub-division of Whorls is made by seg¬ 
regating the double spiral Whorls into a sub-division 
that is indicated by a small numeral “2” placed next 
to the W, thus:. W,2. 


Figures 77 and 81 show several types of the 
double spiral Whorl. It will be observed that one 
side of figure 77 is flattened. Had the oppo¬ 
site side been similar this pattern would natur¬ 
ally fallen into the fourth segregation of the Whorls. 
From the appearance of the core, it started to be a 
triple spiral Whorl, but bifurcated into the second spi¬ 
ral. Ridges two and three, five and six, seven and 
eight form an enclosure that cause one ridge to count 


74 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


as two. Ridges four, five and six, have also an islet, 
all so close together that it would be an impossibility 
to mistake this impression for another if identifica¬ 
tion was being made. To the right of the pattern is 
a fine cicatrix, and on the left side are a number of 
creases. Reading W,2/18/8/22. 





Figure No. 77. Figure No. 78. Figure No. 79. 


Besides the core, figure 78 posesses three very 
plain features. The eleventh and twelfth ridge is 
an islet. On its left side is a prominent enclosure, 
with another islet on the next ridge. 


Figure 79 is hardly elipitical enough to be placed 
into the fourth sub-division of the Whorls--although, 
if being searched for, and the W,2., division did not 
produce results, a look into the ellipitical class might 
be profitable, as an impression like this may possibly 
be placed into the “e” class by an inexperienced 
operator. 


Figure 80 shows a peculiarity in the number of 
forks it posesses close to the core. Ridges two—three- 
four—five bifurcate from one to the other. Forks 
are also at eight and nine, twelve and thirteen. The 







SEGREGATING THE WHORLS 


75 


inner terminius is the end of the rod pointing to the 
delta. The numerous abrupt endings give figure 81 
distinction* which it would not otherwise possess. Its 
reading is W.2/15/9/22. 



Figure No. 80. Figure No. 81. 


The fourth segregation of the Whorls is made by 
placing the elliptical Whorl into a sub-division indicated 
by a small letter “e” being placed along side the “W” 
symbol of the major group, thus: W, e. 



Figure No. 82. Figure No. 83. 


Observation of the salient outlines of the concent- 
trically formed ridges of figure 82 to 85 will quickly 
learn anyone to distinguish the elliptical type so that 
it can alwavs be placed into the proper sub-division of 
W, e. 






76 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


No notice is taken of the core of an elliptical 
type, if the vertical ridges are narrow so as to present 
an elongated appearance it is a W, e. 


If figure 82 was round instead of elliptical it 
would fall into the first sub-division of W. As it is 
a clean elliptical type, it is W, e/12/3/18. Figure 
83 is an impression that would have gone into the W. L, 
sub-division. The many forks branching out at the 
bottom of this pattern causing the ell ptical appearance. 
Figure 84 possesses compact individuality. Its forks 
and abrupt ends make it extra distinctive, ridges two 
and three, four and five, six and seven being very 
prominent forks. The classification reads W,e/17/7/22. 



Figure No. 84. Figure No. 85. 


To set out all the details on figure 85 would take 
considerable time. There are over thirty points that 
are exceedingly good for comparison within the two 
deltas of this small pattern. Ridges four and five, 
seven and eight and nine furnish double and triple 
forks, which render it easy for identification. 


The fifth segregation is made by placing the extra 
large whorls into a sub-division that is indicated by 
the small letter “L” following the W, symbol, thus: 





SEGREGATING THE WHORLS 


77 


W, L. This is a division created soley for the use 
of the larger files. 



Figure No. 86. Figure No. 86 a. 

The ridges of some Whorls run so far over the 
side of the finger that no delta can be distinguished. 
As the first count will usually be over thirty, they can 
be placed on an Identification Chart carrying 80 + 
(plus) in the left corner. Their number is compara¬ 
tively few in even a large file, so they will be easily 
located in a search. Figure 86 shows one of this type. 

The sixth and last segregation is made by placing 
all the Whorls, no matter what type, that have a scar 
marring the pattern, into a sub-division indicated by a 
small letter s following the W of the major group. 
W, s. For illustrations of scarred patterns see page 62. 



Figure No. 87. 


Figure No. 88. 







78 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Figure No. 89. 





Figure No.90. Figure No. 91. Figure No. 92. 


TWINNED LOOPS. 


The twin loops “are divided into two segregations. 
Twinned Loops and Twinned Loop Scars. Indicated 
by TL for the plain type and TLs for the scarred 
impressions. 


Some classifiers make a practice of indicating the 
Twinned Loops, Lateral Pockets, and Central Pockets 
by using the symbol “W”. Where this practice is con¬ 
tinued, the Single Finger Print Identification System 
would not give satisfactory results. Not that no re¬ 
sults would be had, for a complete search would, in all 
probability, find the pattern sought among the Whorls. 
But it would take up a lot of unnecessary time which 
would be lost in looking at Whorl patterns instead of 
the prints of the type sought As it only takes 
a few seconds to trace the inside loops in order 
to find their exits, it will be found adviseable to do so. 
The operator will then know for certain where a 
definite pattern may be found.. 





80 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


A double line is drawn on figure 90 to show how 
similar the counts are when the inner terminus pre¬ 
sent a doubt, as to which Would be the right point to 
use in making the counts. While accuracy will always 
be appreciated in obtaining results, still, if a search is 
being made in this system; by using the same rule 
that is used for the little finger counts in the “Henry 
System”, the right print will be found. If the correct 
count is not available when making a search, by using 
the above rule the right print will not be passed over, 
but will be found. A little practice will quickly show 
the searcher the soundness of the above rule if prop¬ 
erly applied. 


Although the left delta is the guide for inner, meet 
or outer, in a Twinned Loop, just the same as a Whorl; 
it does not decide the counting position for the Single 
Finger Print Identification System. The nearest delta 
is always the delta used in classifying for this system. 
The classification of figure 90 is written TL/7/18/25. 


The line between the inner and outer terminus 
is slightly overdrawn in figure 91. Ridge three and 
four is an islet, while six and eight have endings near 
the line of count. Thus making three very distinctive 
points in less than a quarter of a square inch, which 
renders identification remarkably simple. 


Figure 92 is a plain Twinned Loop. If all Comp¬ 
osites were as easy to distinguish as this pattern, the 
classifier would be spared a lot of his or her daily pro¬ 
blems, that, at times, cause a lot of worry. The forks 
and island between the delta also make this a simple 
pattern for identification. The reader will find a use¬ 
ful exercise in closely observing each pattern, and pick¬ 
ing out the details that are referred to as we proceed. 


TWINNED LOOPS 


81 


By use of such detail, a description is able to be sent 
any distance, so that anyone may be scientifically 
identified from a one finger impression — without 
another print for comparison. Just the print that is 
taken at the other end of the wire. No waiting until 
a finger print is sent, but through the description sent 
an absolute identification is possible from one finger. 


Figure 93 has so much detail encompassed in a 
few ridges, that it is difficult to decide which would 
best serve our object in being pointed out. The most 
prominent characteristic, outside the unusual tenor of 
the pattern, is the island in the immediate vicinity of 
the right delta. There is a faint outline of an islet at 
the inner terminus, not being a strong outline, no notice 
is taken of its presence. For the profession of Ident¬ 
ification does not permit guesses. An identification 
must rest upon statement of fact. 


Ridges one and two, three and four, seven and 
eight, are forks that bifurcate before reaching the 
counting position, while six and nine have an abrupt 
termination close to the line. The classification is 
written TL/10/18/31. 



Figure No. 93. 


Figure No. 94. 




82 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The appearance of figure 94 present a weak indi¬ 
vidual concentricity. It is by such turns and twists 
that physical character can be correlated, and delineat¬ 
ed from a finger print. The short end of the inner 
ridge under the core, along with the short ridge of the 
right delta, are the prominent details for comparison. 



Figure No. 95. 


Figure No. 96. 


Figure 95 presents a good study for porescopy— 
if a strong glass is used, each pore will be shown very 
plain. The majority are circular in shape, some tri¬ 
angular, and others oblong. As the cicatrix of the 
star-like scar is on one side, there is no need to place 
this pattern in the scarred division — unless done as 
an extra precaution. Ridges two and five bifurcate, 
making a fork running each way of the ridges. Ridges 
nine and ten have an abrupt ending, one above, the 
other below the counting position. The strongest 
feature of this pattern is the oddity of the right delta. 
The written classification is TL/11/11/22. 


In making a search for an impression of the fig¬ 
ure 96 type, it would also be advisable to look at it 
in the W,2., segregation. As the ridges make a com¬ 
plete circle before making an exit, this type would fall 
into the third sub-division. As the W,2 sub-division 






TWINNED LOOPS 


S3 


is about two and a half times as large as the Twinned 
Loops; the number of prints is made smaller by pla¬ 
cing such close types into the smaller division. This 
is one of the decisions that call for individual initia¬ 
tion—also dearly beloved by a certain class who de¬ 
light to raise controversies which they have not the 
ability to settle. 


Ridge six is a detail of the most decisive character 
for identification, for it is so rarely met. Ridge 
seven bifurcates just above the counting position, and 
twelve and thirteen is the result of a bifurcation pro¬ 
ducing a fork just below the line. Also observe the 
closeness of the flexure, which is a rarity. The 
classification is written TL/15/12/25. 



Figure No. 96, a. 


Figure No. 96, b. 





LATERAL POCKET LOOPS 


The Lateral Pocket Loops are divided into two 
segregations. LP and LP,s. The small “s” mean¬ 
ing scarred pattern. The difference between a Lat¬ 
eral Pocket Loop and a Twinned Loop is comparatively 
easy of distinction. The two ridges that form the 
axis of each loop in a Lateral Pocket Loop, enter the 
pattern from the same side. In a Twinned Loop, the 
two lines that form the axis of each loop, enter from 
opposite sides of the pattern. 


Owing to a Lateral Pocket having the same num¬ 
erical value as a Whorl, many operators place the sym¬ 
bol “W” under these conditions when classifying. 
This is not suitable when using this system. It only 
takes a few seconds to trace the inside ridges so as to 
ascertain their exits. Which, once found, gives its 
own satisfaction in the knowledge that good technic 
has been employed. 


LATERAL POCKET LOOPS 


85 


lhe leit hand delta of the Lateral Pocket Loop 
is disregarded in this system. The nearest delta is 
used as the counting- position—no matter whether it 
is the left or right delta. The closer it is to the center 
of the bulb of the finger, the better suited it is for 
our purpose. 


There are four operations used to classify a Lat¬ 
eral Pocket Loop. The following order must be used 
to secure consistency. 


First Decide type of pattern and which sub¬ 
division the impression falls into. Then 
place the correct symbols in the upper 
left hand corner. 


Second Count the ridges from the inner terminus 
to the nearest delta. Then place the num¬ 
ber found in the upper right hand corner. 


Third Follow the delta line to a position verti¬ 
cally under the inner termini and count the 
number of ridges to the flexure of the 
joint. Place their number in the lower 
left hand corner. 


Fourth Cor lit the ridges from the inner terminus 
to the flexure of the joint—making sure a 
vertical line is followed. Place the num¬ 
ber of the ridges found in the lower right 
hand corner. The classification is 

completed. 



86 


SINGLE FINGEIl PRINT SYSTEM 



Figure No. 97. Figure No. 98. 


Figure 97 is a clear type of Lateral Pocket Loop. 
If the ridge that is the inner terminal is followed, it 
will be found to make the lower side of the right delta. 
The dot on the right delta is the outer terminus. The 
second and third ridges are resultant of a fork, and 
one of the ridges of the surmounting loop bisect the 
second ridge. The fourth ridge has an abrupt term¬ 
ination above the counting line. The fifth ridge has 
two bifurcations below the line, one of which runs in¬ 
to ridge number six. Six and seven are a fork, 
eight is a short line, that being followed is found to 
break near its center. Nine has a fork below the line, 
eleven and twelve fork above, and thirteen is a short 
line. All of these points make this pattern fertile 
for identity. The classification reads LP/17/10/29. 

The nearest delta will usually show upon a plain 
impression of a Twinned Loop or a Lateral Pocket 
Loop. When a rolled impression has been taken 
with very wide deltas; an additional safeguard can 
be made by immediately taking a plain impression 
with the fingers held together in a natural manner— 
on a separate piece of paper if there is not room on the 
card provided. Then individual judgment is added 
in allotting the impression for charting; for if the 
finger is being indexed for criminal purposes, chart it 
from the plain impression as well as the rolled one. 


LATERAL POCKET LOOPS 


87 


Figure 98 is an impression that adapts itself 
for easy identity, for even if the left delta was used, 
it would be sure to show upon a plain print. The line 
that is marked on this illustration, and also figure 97, 
is made by pressing the counter into the paper be¬ 
tween the counting points. Sometimes it is not 
drawn accurately at the first try, as on 98, so the 
marking of another line does not obliterate any detail 
of the pattern. This method furnishes a positive way 
to make the counts accurately, because, if the line is 
straight it is the shortest distance between the two 
points wanted. 


The fourth ridge has an abrupt termination above 
the line, while six has the same below the line. By 
following the delta line to the vertical position of the 
second count, and working toward the inner terminus, 
we find some additional features that assist in estab¬ 
lishing an identification by comparison, or otherwise. 
When the delta line is used as a point to count from, 
it is never counted, but the line next to it is always 
number one. On the first ridge an end is found, and 
an extra large pore is on the second ridge that makes 
it look as if it had a break just above the end of the 
ridge below. If the ink had happened to be thick, 
this feature may possibly not have shown itself there¬ 
fore notice should not be taken of such beguiling pores. 
Ridge four bisects number five. The classification 
reads: LP/7/10/16. 


There is a sign of a small scar upon figure 99, but 
no cognizance should be taken of it. The small enclos¬ 
ure on the second ridge, and the bifurcation in the 
center of the pattern offer two splendid points for a 
quick identification. Seven and eight bifurcates 
above and seven ends below the line. The classifi¬ 
cation reads: LP/8/10/15. 


88 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Figure No. 99. Figure No. 100. 


The inside loop of figure 100 is broken before mak¬ 
ing a complete loop. In a core of this character, the 
rod farthest from the outer termini is the inner ter¬ 
minus. If the loop had turned slightly to the left the 
classification of this finger would have been the same 
as figure 99. Had this occurred, the two impressions 
would never have been mistaken for each other. 
Observe the detail along the line of count. Ridges 
three and four are resultant of a fork, six, seven and 
eight end above the line, with six and eight also end¬ 
ing below the line. Then to find more points of 
comparison, by following the delta line to the vertical 
point and working towards the I. T., we find that 
ridge one ends, three has an enclosure, and four a 
double fork. So if the counts were alike, the addit¬ 
ional detail by a simple code over the telegraph wire 
would dispell any doubt in the identity of the owners 
of these two impressions. 


Figure No. 101. 


Figure No. 102. 





LATERAL POCKET LOOPS 


89 


When a cut leaves a scar that alters the confor¬ 
mation of the ridges, thus showing its course across 
the pattern, it should be placed in the scarred 
sub-division. Figure 90 shows a cut that does not 
alter the ridges beyond thickening a little at the ends. 
By comparing figures 90 and 97 the difference be¬ 
tween the two scars will be observed. If figure 90 
was picked up as a latent the symmetry would pos¬ 
sibly deceive the operator, whereas, the deviation from 
the natural course on figure 101, would inform anyone 
that a scar was upon that finger. Ridge one has a 
fork, as are three and four, eleven and twelve, thir¬ 
teen and fourteen. Nine, fifteen and sixteen end, 
the first and last above and fifteen below the line. 
Although the scar runs across each ridge of the count 
it does not prevent an authentic number being had: 
LP,s/16/10/26. 


The scar on figure 102 is so plain that no one 
would ever have any doubt as to which sub-division 
it belongs. Ridges five and ten are ends, five above 
and ten below the line. The sixth and seventh count 
is resultant of an enclosure, as thirteen and four¬ 
teen also. Thus giving plenty of points to establish 
an identity upon. The full reading of the classifi¬ 
cation is LP,s/15/6/14. 



CENTRAL POCKET LOOPS 


Although Sir. E. It. Henry has given four separ¬ 
ate and distinct standards for Central Pocket Loops, 
this system only segregates them into three sub¬ 
divisions. First the CP,o; see figure 103 — 4, and 
115 -16. The C P, figures 107 to 114 and the C P,s; 
figure 117. The deciding characters has been slightly 
darkened in these illustrations so as to emphasize the 
features. 

The first sub-division is indicated by C P, o. 


The second sub-division is indicated by CP. 

The third sub-division is indicated by CP,s. 

If the ‘Henry’ rule defining a Central Pocket 
Loop is observed, there will be no difficulty in class¬ 
ifying and charting these patterns correctly. 

“At least one recurving ridge shall meet at 
right angles an imaginary line running par¬ 
allel with the line of exit of the ridges”. 


CENTRAL POCKET LOOPS 


91 


As the primary classification is not subject to 
error even it a Central Pocket loop is classified as a 
Whorl, or a Twinned Loop given as a Lateral Pocket 
Loop, many classifiers labor under the impression that 
it does not matter. But it does matter. For there 
are many exchanges that are based upon the' individ¬ 
ual unit system which do not exchange the print it¬ 
self, therefore confusion is caused and error arises. 


y 


0 

0 

17 

I 

14 


0 

0 

17 

I 

14 

Z5r - 14- 

TL 

CP 

\ 

CP 

X 

25 - 14 

w 

w 

\ 

w 

\ 

ia 

9 

15 

1 

IS 

18 IRIS 

16 

9 

IS 

X 

15 

18?U IS- 

,\ 

\ 

/ 

LP 

/ 

X 

X 

y 

w 

y 


The diagram shows how this confusion is caused. 
Anyone would hesitate to make an identification with 
this difference in the symbols. 


As the author is personally acquainted with class¬ 
ifiers who daily repeat this practice, thru not taking 
time to use the pointer to trace the ridges, it is hoped 
that this word of caution will serve to save others from 
the habit of using lax methods. By always using the 
pointer when in doubt about any particular pattern, 
this error — and many others, — will be avoided. 


























92 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Central Packet Loops are a splendid aid in estab¬ 
lishing ldentiiica.ion. There are always so many 
strong individual traits that make each pattern so 
distinctive. Figure 103 possesses 36 separate points 
of comparison in this small pattern. As the counting 
delta — the nearest — is frequently too close to the 
inner terminus to furnish many descriptive points fcr a 
code, the ridges between the inner terminus and the 
outer delta may be used for descriptive identification. 
On this illustration, Figure 103, there are 15 ridges be¬ 
tween the I. T. and 0. T. There are bifurcations 
making a fork on ridges 1, 2, 3 and 4. Ridges 6, 
7 and 8 are resultant of a fork, and also an enclosure, 
the combination of these two details causing three 
ridges where ordinarily only two would be found. 9 
and 10, and 11 and 12 are from a fork just above the 
line. 15 ends above, and 12 has an enclosure below 
the line. Thus giving ten very strong details in a very 
small area. As there are only five ridges intervening 
between the I. T.. and delta line the classification is 
written CP.O./5/13/18. 



Figure No. 104. 


Figure No. 103 


With the first glance at figure 104, there does not 
look to be a great deal that would serve for identity , 
if an exception is made of the three inside ridges. The 



CENTRAL POCKET LOOPS 


93 


enclosure on the 4th ridge, and the crossed ridges to 
the left of the pattern are unmistakable pecularities 
providing ready recognition from the bifurcation that 
is the nearest delta to the center of the core. Only one 
ridge intervenes. Yet on making the third count, there 
is a difference of 3 counts. Which is caused by the 
first count running through the bifurcation before it 
has separated from the original ridge. 


If a count is made from the inner terminus to the 
farthest delta, where the dot is an outer terminus, 12 
ridges are found. 4 and 5 are a fork above, and 8 and 
9 fork below the line. An enclosure is below on the 
4th ridge, 9 and 10 are parts of the enclosure, while 6 
and 7 above and 11 below the counting line. Giving 
seven definite points that can be transmitted by a 
telegraphic code, that will, in conjunction with the 
classification CP,o/l/12/15 provide unmistakable ident¬ 
ification. 


If only one finger is printed and it is recorded 
which finger the classification belongs, with the aid of 
the “Galton Details” the finger can be identified by 
descriptive code anywhere — by just taking an impres¬ 
sion and comparing it with the description. No waiting 
for a set of prints to arrive to be certain it is the right 
person. You may search the world over, but you will 
hot find another person with the same pattern, the 
same number of ridges, and the same arrangement of 
these four details upon the same finger. 


There is just one rule that must be rigidly observ¬ 
ed. The type of pattern must be accurate. It is in 
segregating the patterns that most mistakes are made. 
Figure 105 is an example. It was cut from a card 


94 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


classified in one of the leading identification bureaus 
of this country. A bureau that is up—to—date in all 
its work and has a system that is held as a pattern to 
copy. The original classification on this figure has 
been left undisturbed. 


The fac. that the Central Pocket Loop has the 
word loop as a part of its name, shows that this type 
is a deviation ot the Loop pattern. So it follows that 
some of the ridges must have a semblance to a Loop. 
In figure 105 there is not even one ridge that has any 
appearance of a Loop. As the formation of the one 
complete ridge is circular, with two well defined deltas, 
this impression must be a Whorl with a classification 
of W/2/16/19. 


Figure 106 was also found classified as a CP. 
Examination with the pointer will quickly show the 
difference. The inside ridges have been darkened for 
emphasis. Compare figures 103—4—7 with 105—6 
The majority of the ridges are a distinct Loop type, 
whereas the Arch predominates in the Whorls—being 
a Whorl by reason of the circular formation of one 
ridge only. 



Figure No. 105. 


Figure No. 106. 






CENTRAL POCKET LOOPS 


95 


The recurving of the innermost ridge automatically 
places figure 107 into the CP division. If there were 
two prints of this finger before an operator for com¬ 
parison, no doubt would arise as to the identity. The 
plain impression is also shown so that the reader can 
see the policy of taking the second count from the 
nearest delta. On a search being made for this print 
with a latent, or a plain impression as a guide, if the 
second count was taken from the left delta, its position 
would have to be guessed at. But by using the near¬ 
est delta all counts are quickly had. 



Figure No. 107. 


One look at this print and we know it will be found 
on the second chart. On the other hand, if we had to 
guess the position of the delta, so as to commence mak¬ 
ing a first and second count, a lot of time would be 
wasted in looking on different charts to locate this 
impression. The nearest delta as a guide is the best 
possible permanent position to make the first and sec¬ 
ond counts to or from. 


The nearest delta of Figure 107 is a long distance 
down what may be termed the central ridge—it is 
blackened so that it may stand out in the reproduction. 





96 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


A line from the center of the bifurcation to the end 
of the short rod pointing to the exit, discloses that 
only two ridges are crossed by this line. The line 
that bifurcates, being the delta, is also the delta line 
that is traced, as it runs into the lower ridge it is 
followed to a point just above the fork, where the sec¬ 
ond count of 19 is taken. Then counting from the I.T. 
3 more is found and added to the 19; giving a class¬ 
ification of CP/2/19/22. 


If an extra description is needed a count between 
the I. T. and the outer delta gives 19, with a fork at 
5 and 6 — 12 and 13 above the line, a fork at 9 and 10 
below the line. The ridges end above the line on 17 
and 19, and below on4—6—12—15—17—18. An en¬ 
closure is on 8 below the line. To observe well this 
pattern and check un the location of these details is 
good exercise, as well as training for the eye. 




Figure No. 108 Figure No. 109. 


‘Henry’ gives CP’s by standards, figure 108 is a 
type that would fall under the IV standard. The very 
small ridge at the left delta is the 0. T. and the point of 
the short down thrusting ridge at the core is the I. T. 
A count of 1 i is found between these tv o points. There 









CENTRAL POCKET LOOPS 


07 


is plenty of detail along this line of count, but to keep 
the system consistent, one and the same position must 
be used at all times. So when an extra description is 
needed, it must be the rule to obtain the description 
from between the I.T. and the farthest delta on a Cen¬ 
tral Pocket Loop. This rule will not apply to any other 
pattern. A count is taken first, on this figure, 24 is 
found. F,a/5 & 6/13 & 14/19 & 21. E,a/17/22/24. 
F.o/2/9 & 10/19 & 20. F,b/7/8/ll/14. E,b/17/18 

/19/21/23. 


It is customary for finger print operators to use 
abbreviations when classifying. To familiarize the 
reader with the symbology used to describe the details, 
we will use the abbreviations to describe the remain¬ 
der of the illustrations. A full list of all symbols, letters 
etc., will be found on pages 120 to 124. 

The indecision and wavering of the ridges sn Figure 
109 show tendencies of a vacillating type. A conclusion 
that is strongly supported by the unsettled condition of 
the core. This is a type of pattern that causes a diver¬ 
gence of opinion. If this impression was enlarged, 
one side of the two bifurcations would be found to be 
right angled. The I. T. is the top of the short ridge 
in the center of the core. O. T. is the first Bi. of 
central ridge, giving a count of five. As the R. D. 
line runs into the ridge above, it is followed along this 
ridge until arriving at a vertical point under the I. T., 
where the 2nd count of nineteen and the 3rd count of 
twentyfour is taken. 


If an additional description is needed, the L. D. 
has a count of 12, with a F,a/3 & 4/6 & 7/8 & 9. E,a/ 
11/12. F,o/2; E,b/ll, all of which are written in 

the order given: 


98 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


First. Indicate whether right, or left delta and 
the number of ridges to the I. T. 


Second. Indicate the forks above the line of 
count. If two ridges that are counted have 
their source in the fork, place an “and” in 
between the two numbers, as above F,a/3 & 
4/6 & 7/8 & 9. If the fork runs upward, 
there is only one line counted, so give the 
number it is, always counting from the I.T. 


Third. Indicate the ends above the line of count, 
the Enclosures and Is ands also, in given order. 


Fourth. Indicate what Forks, Ends, Enclosures 
qr Islands are upon the line, in the order 
given. 


Fifth. Indicate the Forks, Ends, Enclosures or 
Islands that are below the line, in the order 
given. 


This order is simple and easily memorized, first 
all the details that are above the line. Second, all the 
details that are on the line. Third, all the details that 
are below the line. 


The 8 individual details of Figure 109, with the 
pattern, will not be found on the same finger of any 
other person. So the pattern, the Classification, and 
description, all combine to furnish a means of scienti¬ 
fic identification without having to forward another 
finger print for comparison. Just take an impression 


CENTRAL POCKET LOOPS 


99 


of the finger and check up the counts, and detail, is 
all that is necessary to be certain of the person’s iden¬ 
tity. 


This extra description is not necessarily a part 
of Single Finger classification. The addition of the 
“Galton Details” is solely a means for confirming an 
identification by telegraphic code when there is no 
print present to make a comparison, instead of waiting 
days for one to arrive by mail. Thus the identity is 
established in an hour or so over the wire. 




Figure No. 110. 


Figure No. 111. 


Figure 110 is a CP with specific features, showing 
a determined course, with no wavering but a fixed 
purpose of continuing until a deciding point is reached. 
Thus do the ridges express physical character. The 
I.T. is at the right side of the reconverging ridge that 
makes an almost direct tangent to the O.T. The L.D. 
has a count of 8. F,a/2 & 3/4 & 5 & 6; E,a/7; F,b 

/5 &6/7 & 8; E,b/3. Six descriptive points that 

will not be duplicated on another CP/3/19/21, if it can 
be found. 



100 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Figure 111 is another standard IV type. The 
I.T. is the top of the small inside ridge.- The 0. T. is 
the small v shaped ridge at the right Bi. The regular 
classification can be reinforced by the addition of L.D, 
21; F,a/3 & 4/5 & 6/7 & 8/9 & 10/13 & 14 & 15/18 

& 19/20/21; F b'3/4/5/6 & 7; Eb 14/3 5/18 19/21. 
Making 18 distinctive traits in all. With so many 
details, it is not necessary to use all of them. Two 
or three of each would be sufficient, and by placing 
a plus mark at the end of what was given would ans¬ 
wer every purpose. E. R. D. 


L.D.21; F,a/3 & 4/5 & 6+; F b/3/4/5/+; E, 
b/14/15/-K 


Figure No. 112. Figure No. 113. 

1 he dot line between the first and second count's 
on figure 112 is the most distinctive detail in this pat¬ 
tern. The rarity of such enhance the value. The 
position of this dot adds one more count to this class- 
fication of CP/3/19/21. If needed, L. D. 11; F,a/ 
3 & 4/10 & 11; E,a//2/7; F,b/5 & 6/8 & 10;; E,b/ 

3/9/11; can be added. 


If the contour of the loop ridges were disregarded 
in figure 113, this impression would be a W,l. But 





CENTRAL POCKET LOOPS 


101 


as a majority of the ridges are plainly loops , it is a 
Central Pocket Loop. The regularity of the ridges 
prevent a large display of detail, but a close look will 
disclose enough points to establish a scientific 
identity, with the aid of the regular classification. 
L.D.25; F,a/3 & 4/8 & 9/19 & 20; F,c>/10; F,b/3/ 

4 & 5/6/11 & 12; E,b/7/20. Ten extra details that 

will not be duplicated in another CP with a count of 
6/22/27. 



Figure No. 114. Figure No. 115. 


Figure 114 possesses a singularity that adds in¬ 
dividuality to a plain type. The I. T. is the short 
irregular ridge in the center, the second ridge being 
flattened just above the bisecting ridge, is the 
feature that places this impresison in the CP sub¬ 
division. An analysis of the details show; L.D. 15; 
F,a/3 & 4/8; E,a/l/7/9/14; E,o/15; F,b/1 & 2; 

E,b/6/9/ll/14. Showing 12 indisputable points for 
identification. 


The dot in the center is the I. T. on Figure 

115. A line is scratched on the plane of exit, and 
another line at right angles below the ridge that 
places this impression in the CP class. The other two 
ridges meet the axis at an acute angle. The rule that 


102 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


must be observed in classifying a Central Pocket Loop 
is “At least one ridge must meet the line of exit at 
a right angle”. If this rule is adhered to there will be 
no difficulty in defining the type correctly. The 
small drawn circle shows the O.T. of the nearest delta. 
The differentia shows strong mannerism, as well as 
eveness in regularity. The extra descriptions al¬ 
though small, are well defined, reading L.D. 8; F,a/ 
2 & 3/7 & 8; E, a/5; F, b/3/8; specifying an assort¬ 
ment of five details that will not be repeated on 
another similar pattern on the same finger. 



Figure No. 116. Figure No. 117. 


The CP,o. 5/15/18 is rich with points for com¬ 
parison,there are nearly 50 in this small pattern. But 
it is not at all neccessary to give each one. The few 
between the left delta and the I.T. will be more than 
sufficient for our purpose. L.D. 17; F,a/4 & 5/6 & 

7/9 & 10/12 & 13/14 & 15; E,a/16; F,b/2/3/9/13 

& 14/15 & 16. 

The scarred pattern, Figure 117, is easy to classify 
as the scar does not interfere with either delta. All 
the extra description that would be needed for this 
finger would be the position of the scar. Count first 
from I.T. to the scar, then from L.D. to scar. The 
full reading would be: CP,s. 7/16/22; O.T.4. If more 
detail was wanted there are five points between the 
I.T. and the scar that could be supplied. 



ARCHES 


It is not probable that an arch will be found with, 
undulating ridges at an equal distance from each other, 
or one that possesses no bifurcations whatsoever. The 
author has never seen one. At what may be termed the 
core,which is the narrowest part of the arch proper, 
there is alwaj^s some distinguishing characteristic of 
the ridges that will make that arch different from 
similar patterns. 

These individual details enable us to separate 
the plain Arch patterns into three sub-divisions. The 
first is indicated by “A,i.” The second by a plain “A.” 
And the third by “A,s.” for scarred patterns alone. 

When the eye is trained to observe the full de¬ 
tails of a finger impression, the available minutiae of 
the Arches will form ready means of identity. These 
instructions in Single Finger Identification have been 


104 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


carefully written to exercise the readers eye to ob¬ 
serve the salient attributes of the patterns; so if 
attention has been paid to each of the illustrations 
it will be easy for the reader to pick out the counting 
positions on the Arches. 


Three counts are taken of an Arch to supply a 
classification and permit charting; just as the other 
patterns. But (here is this difference. Natural deltas 
are a stable part of a Loop, Whorls and Composites, 
furnishing a fixed working position. Whereas, the 
ridges of an Arch cross the finger in undulating lines 
that have no deltas at all. As Finger Printing is a 
to identity. For science is classified knowledge that 
science, we cannot go outside the patterns for aids 
explain facts. So we have to confine our attention to 
the actual impression itself and what it shows. The 
varied and concise details that show when a finger is 
printed is all that can be used. 


After a thorough search, three details were found 
that consistently repeated themselves on the Arch 
patterns, which would enable three counts to be sci¬ 
entifically made so that an Arch could be properly 
classified and charted. 

Upon a close examination, a large number of the 


Arch type will be found to have an enclosure about 
the center of the pattern. Some impressions will 
have several of them. When such is the case, either 
use the largest enclosure or the one nearest the flex¬ 
ure of the joint. These enclosures are called an 
island when found upon the Arch pattern, so as to avoid 
confusion with the Accidentals. 


ARCHES 


105 


There is an enclosure in the center of figure 118. 
The island itself, has only two bifurcations. These 
two are used for two of the counts, so a third point is 
necessary for another starting position. Looking 
above the island a bifurcation is observed on the 
third ridge right over the two bifurcations. This 
will serve for the first counting point. Placing the 
counter directly upon the bifurcation and dropping 
down to the next ridge, it is counted as a number-one 
(1), which is followed and numbered to the flexure 
of the phalanx. A vertical line is kept throughout the 
counting process, marked “A” on figure 118. 


Then placing the counter on the left bifurcation 
of the inland, commencing with the ridge below 7 as num¬ 
ber one (1), a second count is made to the flexure, in 
a straight line at an angle of about 30 degrees. Marked 
“C” on figure 118. 


Then placing the counter on the right bifurcation 
of the island, commencing with the ridge below as 
number (1), a third count is made to the flexure, in a 
straight line at an angle of about 30 degrees. Marked 
“B” on Figure 118. 


This supplies three separate counts that enable 
the impression to be correctly classified and charted, 
so that it can be located in quick order. If it is necess¬ 
ary to identify this finger by telegraph, the extra de¬ 
tail would be had as follows: 


Place the glass so that the line on the 
foot of glass is vertically in the center of the 
island. Count the number of ridges from the ridge 


106 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


directly below the island to the bottom of the joint. 
Then observe what Forks, ends, or islands are on 
the left side of the line. When the left side is ex¬ 
hausted, do the same on the right side of the line. 

On figure 118 the details read: 17/F,L/ 
1 & 2/3 & 4/5 & 6/8 & 10; E,L/5/8/ll/13/14; F,r/ 

7 & 8/9s & 10/10 & 11; E,r/l/2/3/4/7/12. 

Here are nineteen scientific points for identification 
that will not be repeated in another Arch on the same 
finger. If more detail is wanted, by marking a line 
through the center of the impression all the detail 
upon this, or any other pattern could be outlined with 
accuracy. But it is not at all necessary. From six 
to twelve points along with the classification will iden¬ 
tify anyone by telegraph—and no waiting for a finger 
print to make a comparison with. 



Figure No.. 118. Figure No. 119 


There arc no less than three islands on figure 119. 
As the lowest island is large enough for our purpose, 
it is used because in a good position for classifying 
and charting. The first bifurcation above the island 
is a smaller island. This will act for the first count¬ 
ing position. Dropping the pointer to the top ridge 
of the island, it is counted as number one (1), and 







ARCHES 


107 


followed straight down the flexure, giving a count of 
14. On taking the second count, the first and second 
ridges look as if they were on an island also, this is 
because the drawn line just touches the second ridge. 
By looking at the illustration with a strong glass a 
clear space will be observed between the line and first 
ridge. As the drawn line touches the end of the sec¬ 
ond ridge, it is counted as number two on the journey 
to the flexure. The drawn line illustrating the third 
count runs directly through the bifurcation of ridges 
one and two, so both are counted on the way to the 
flexure. For an extra description of this impression 
the first counting line can be used, but only count 
from the third ridge which is the first one under the 
island that dominates the counts 12: C,a; FX/9 & 10 
/12; E,L/1 4/6/12: F,r/l&2/3&4; E,r/l/3/6 

/7/9/11. Fourteen details that will not be repeated 
on another Arch classified as A,i/14/12/11. 



Figure No. 121. 


Figure No. 120 


The line “A” on figure 120 is not complete, but 
commences on the fourth ridge. The arrow points 
to the first bifurcation above the island that is used 
for the second and third counts. If a small bisecting 
line had been to the right on ridges 5 and 6, an island 
would have formed directly in the center of the pat¬ 
tern. But we are dealing with facts. So only the 






108 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


lines that are recorded can receive notice. No 
guesses!, no ‘might have been’sk Just plain statement 

of fact of that which shows upon an impression. 


The bifurcation on the second ridge above the is¬ 
land is the starting point for the first count to the 
flexure. Line “A” gives 17. From the left bifurcat¬ 
ion of the island, counting at an angle of 30 degrees 
line “B” gives 11. From the right bifurcation, 
counting at an angle of about 30 degrees, line “C” 
gives 13; making a classification of A, i/17/11/13, 
and can be supplemented by the details found crossing 
the line “A” as drawn. F, 1/ 9 & 10/12 &13; F, o/ 
1 &2; S, 6; F, r/2 & 3 &4/ 8 and 9; No need to 
take any more as these are very distinctive, and search 
as anyone may, they will not be found upon the same 
finger of another person bearing an arch of this type. 


The strong flattened ridges of figure 121 show 
signs of hard manual labor. There are two islands on 
this pattern. The one nearest to the flexure is too 
small, so it is ignored, in favor of the larger island on 
the sixth ridge above. The reader will benefit by 
closely observing the details on any, and all arch types. 
For it will take practice to quickly find counting posi¬ 
tions on these patterns. In using the word “quickly”, 
it does not necessarily mean that haste should be em¬ 
ployed. It should not. Identification is a serious 
business, with, very often, the difference between life 
and death resting upon a decision of identify. But the 
up-to-date operator will so train his eve that the sal¬ 
ient points of a pattern are registered with the first 
look. Which will show real efficiencv in his chosen 
profession. As a supplement to the classification of 
Figure 121, F,L/4 & 5/4, 5 & 6/6; S, 2; F,r/4 & 5/ 
8; 1,6; can be added when necessary. 


ARCHES 


109 


The second segregation of Arches are the most 
difficult patterns to classify. Only by dilligent search 
of the impression can anything be found to hang a 
classification upon. This sub-division consists of 
the Arches that have no island upon them at all. The 
bifurcations have to be relied upon entirely. After 
amlyzation of several thousand patterns of this class, 
a contingency in the bifurcations was found that en¬ 
able classification by numbers. 


Somewhere about the center of most of the im¬ 
pressions, a short bisecting ridge connecting two ridges 
will be found, like a fork from the upper ridge to the 
one below. Making a double fork with its prongs run¬ 
ning each way. The drawn lines “B” and “C” on Fig¬ 
ure 122 are pointing at this characteristic. 


Each o}± these bifurcations make a stable posi¬ 
tion from which a count can be had. When this de¬ 
tail is found, the nearest bifurcation over it, will act as 
a starting point for the first count. Line “A” is on 
the right side because the nearest bifurcation over 
the double bifurcation happens to be on that side. 
The three counts give a classification of A/27 14/24. 
If additional detail is required, the details under the 
second and third counting positions can be enumerated 
as being on each side of an imaginary line vertically 
under the commanding position. With the count 
taken from the first ridge under the double bifurcat¬ 
ions. 19; F,L/2/5 &6/7 & 8/15 & 16: Fo/ll&12 
F,r/8 & 9/9d. There are more details but as the 
drawn lines interfere, we will not try to read that 
which is hidden. Six details along with the classifi- 
fication are sufficent to make identification certain. 


110 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Figure No. 122. Figure No. 123. 

The counting position of the second and third 
counts are slightly different, as the top ridge is a very 
small one An S, indicating a short line which is a 
rarity. There are two bifurcations close together. 
The first counting point is on the third ridge above, a 
ridge that also has two bifurcations. As the lower 
double bi. are closed and more in the center of the im¬ 
pression, they are used. With the bi directly over 
the 2nd and 3rd counting position as the starting point 
for the first count. A dot is placed on each of the bi. 
and line “A” is broken so that none of the detail are 
hidden. The class, reads A/16/11/15. With 13; 
F, L/2 & 3/3 & 5/7 & 8; F,r/l/5 & 6/11; added. 
If more detail was needed the short ends could be 
enumerated. 

The next illustration shows another kind of 
double bifurcation. If the fork at the top of the line 
“C” h°d continued its course downward, it would have 
formed an island almost in the center of the impress¬ 
ion. But having to accept the fact as it shows upon 
the paper, a double bifurcation had to be sought. 
On the 6th and 7th ridge from the flexure, between 
lines “B” and “C” there is a short ridge bisecting 
two ridgee; but it is too near the bottom of the phalanx 
for general use. 



ARCHES 


111 



Figure No. 124. 

Not finding any more suitable detail other than 
the two upward thrusting bifurcations on the 11th 
ridge, they have to be utilized for counting. The 
first bi. above the double counting position is so high- 
if we insist in locating one directly over the core— 
that it is preferable to work a little on one side and 
take the first bi. that offers. So a count of 12 is 
found at “A”; 9 at “B”; and 10 at “C”. This pat¬ 
tern is exceptionally free of detail, as well as being a 
type that is very rare. (Which is the reason for in¬ 
cluding it as a guide) A great deal of individual 
initiation and ingenuity will have to be exhibited in 
classifying Arches of this type. As the number of 
this type will amount to less than one per cent of the 
whole file, if any mistakes are made, they will be 
hardly noticable. Not that mistakes are to be tol¬ 
erated—far from it. If the operator will persistently 
practice classifying, charting, and finding this type 
of Arch, in a short time a proficiency will be attained 
that will make this type as easy to find as a simple 
loop. Several enlarged Arches are illustrated with 
the classification for the reader to find the counting 
positions. 

If a detailed description of the enlarged patterns 
was necessary, the following would aid in completing 
identification. 




112 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


“A”; A/14/14/13; 12; R,L/7; F,r/l&3/2&3/4& 

6 / 5&6 / 7&8. 


“B”; A/22/17/17; 19; F,L/2 & 3/6 & 7/10 & 11 

/13&14 / 15&16; Fr / 8&9 / 13 / 13&14. 

“C” A/19/15/15; 16; F,L/l & 2; F,r/4 & 5/6 & 7/ 
10 & 11 . 


“D”; A/24/14/15; 18;F,L/9&10; F,r / 2&4 / 8&9 
9 & 10/13 &14; S, 3. 


“T?” 


A/20/13/14; 18; F L / 6&8 / 14&15; F,r/l&2/3 
& 4; 5, 9. 


“F” A/13/12/14; 18; F,l/5 & 7/8/9 & 
7 & 8/10 & 11; S, 4/16. 


10; F,r/5/ 


“G”; T/l 1/13/15; 11; F,L/ 3&4 / 4&5 / 5 & 6; 

F,r /I & 2/4 & 5/7 & 8; C, 4 & 5. 

F,r/1 & 2/4 & 5/7 & 8; C,4 &5. 

“H”; Ac/5/14/20; F/l/2/3; C,4 & 5. 


ARCHES 


113 



9 *V*\d 








TENTED ARCHES 


The Tented Arch counts are based upon the figure 
of the pattern. The first count is taken from the 
bottom (if the pole ridge from which the name is 
derived—usually in the center of the pattern. It is 
always the middle line on this type. The second and 
third counts are had by extending an imaginary 
horizontal line across the top of the pole ridges, thus 
forming the shape of a “T”. The arms of this “T” 
extending across as many ridges as there are counts 
from the first ridge that passes over the pole, to the 
foot of the pole; taken by following the first arch to 
bottom of pole and counting over to the foot of pole 
ridge. 


On Figure 125, a small dot is at the foot of the 

pole ridge. From the dot to the first ridge that 

passes over the top of the pole, are four intervening 
ridges on the left side. From the top of the pole, 
the imaginary arm of the “T” crosses four ridges. 

The fourth ridge is the starting point for the second 



TENTED ARCHES 


115 



Figure No. 125. 


count, which is 17. On the right side, there are three 
ridges between the dot at the foot of the pole to the 
first ridge that passes over the top of the pole, so the 
right arm of the “T” crosses three ridges to the third 
counting position and a classification of T/17/17/15 is 
made. 


If additional detail should be necessary—which 
will be very rarely wanted; the minutiae that is found 
to the left and right of the first counting line, can be 
enumerated. 


Figure 126 has a black dot placed at each of the 
starting points of the three counts. The classifi¬ 
cation is, T/13/17/20; F,L/1 &2/3 &4/5/9 & 10; F, 

r/6&7/7&8/. Six details in all, w r hich is quite suffi¬ 
cient for scientific purposes. 


There is an arrow pointing to the second and 
third counting positions on Figure 127. The classifi¬ 
cation of T/13/16/19; can be supplemented by E,L/ 
1/4/9: F,L/2&3/5&6/9&10; E,r/l/6/9/10; F,r/4&5 




116 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 




Figure No. 12G. 


Figure No. 127. 


It is not advisable to take any regard of the short 
pole when running the arms of the imaginary pole over 
to make the second and third counts. Always carry 
over from the top of the longest pole ridge, and then 
count vertically downward. See Figure 128, in which 
the pole ridges vary in height, there being two ex¬ 
tremes, one short and the other long. The classifi¬ 
cation of T/8/14/10 can have the following accessory: 
C, 1&2; F,L/4/5&6; F,r/1&4. 



Figure No. 128. 









J 



Figure No. 129. 

ACCIDENTALS 


In charting Accidentals no rigid rule is applied. 
As the near—Accidental is so vacillating in outline, 
there is generally a doubt in the classifyers mind as 
to just what pattern it should be termed. Some have 
had patterns before them that did not look in any way 
similiar to the different compound patterns that are 
illustrated in the instruction books, so a symbol of “C” 
was used to denote a Composite instead of an Ac. for 
Accidental. 


As a regularily appointed committee is now work¬ 
ing on such problems, the author has decided to include 
an extra Identification Chart with this system, which 
will be headed with the symbol “C” to be used as the 
classifier may see fit. In this way we will be fore¬ 
stalling the committee’s decisions and be prepared to 
receive them so that the system will be worked alike 
by everyone using it. 


118 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The same manner of making a classification on a 
Whorl or Twinned Loop is used to make one on the 
Accidentals. But when a pattern of three deltas, like 
figure 130 or 132 comes up individual judgement is 
called upon. 



Figure No. 131. 


Figure No. 130. 


If the importance of using the delta that is near¬ 
est to the center of the finger is kept in mind, there 
will be no difficulty in locating any Accidental that 
may be on the Identification Charts. By this time 
the reader should be able to classify these patterns, so 
the actual work can be done on the illustrations and 
the result tallied with the following: 


Figure 129 Ac/5/15/20. F,a/3&4. C,b/2. 


Figure 130. Ac/6/12/19. F,a/6. E,a/3/4/5. F,b/5&6. 


Figure 131. Ac/7/18/24. E,a/7. F,b/2&3. S/1. C/4&5. 


Figure 132. Ac/10/14/21. F,a/l&2&3/7&9. E,a/8. 
C/5&6. F,b/9&10. 




ACCIDENTALS 


119 


Figure 133. Ac/11/10/21. F,a/l/2/9&10. E,a/4/7/9 
10. F,b/3/6&7/9&10. 



Figure No. 132. 







SINGLE FINGER PRINT 


IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM 


TECHNIC 


Symbol Representing 

R or \ Right slope Loop 
U or / Left slope Loop 
W Whorl 

TL Twinned Loop 

LP Lateral Pocket Loop 

CP Central Pocket Loop 

A Arch 

T Tented Arch 


Ac 


Accidental 


TECHNIC 


121 


IT 

Inner Terminus 

OT 

Outer Terminus 

I 

Inner 

M 

Meet 

0 

Outer 


DESCRIPTIVE NOMENCLATURE 


Symbol 

Representing 

• 

ND 

Nearest delta 

LD 

Left delta 

RD 

Right delta 

Bi 

Bifurcation 

ID 

Inside the delta 

OD 

Outside the delta 

OLD 

Outside the left delta 

ILD 

Inside the left delta. 

ORD 

Outside the right delta 

IRD 

Tnside the right delta. 


122 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


OvLD or OvRD, Over left or right delta as case 

may be . 

UnLD or U11RD, Under right or left delta as case 
may be. 

I Island 

Fa Fork above a straight line between the 

IT & OT. 

Fo Fork upon a straight line between the 

IT & OT. 

Fb Fork below a straight line between the 

IT & OT. 

dFA Double fork above a straight line be¬ 
tween the IT & OT. 

dFb Double fork below a straight line be¬ 

tween the IT & OT. 

Ea Indicating the end of a ridge above the 

line between the IT & OT. 

Eo Indicating the end of a ridge on the line 
between the IT & OT. 

Eb Indicating the end of a ridge below 

the line between the IT & OT. 

C Enclosure caused by a double bifur¬ 

cation, or two forks on the same ridge. 

Ca Enclosure above the line between the 

IT & OT. 


TECHNIC 


123 


Co Enclosure on the line between the IT & 

OT. 

Cb Enclosure below the line between the IT 

& OT. 

dCa Double enclosure above the line between 
the IT & Of. 

dCb Double enclosure below the line between 
the IT & OT. 

Ia Island above the line between the IT 

& OT. 

Io Island on the line between the IT & OT. 

Ib Island below the line between the IT & 

OT. 

dla Double island above the line between 
the IT & OT. 

dlb double island below the line between the 
IT & OT. 

S A very short ridge. 

Sa Short ridge above the line between the 

IT & OT. 

So Short ridge on the line between the IT 

& OT. 

Sb Short ridge below the line between the 


124 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


D Small mark of a ridge called a Dot. 

IT & OT. 


Da 

Small dot above the line between the IT 
& OT. 

Do 

Small dot on the line between the IT & 
OT. 

Db 

Small dot below the line between the IT 
& OT. 

Ov 

Over 

Un 

Under. 

Bt 

Between 

Be 

Besides 

sc 

Cicatrice, scar 

Cr 

Crease. 


USING THE 


CROSSKEY IDENTIFICATION CHARTS 


Aproximately two thirds of every file are Ulnar 
or Radial Loops. A fact that made the problem of 
identity by single fingers a complex one. This prob¬ 
lem has now been swept away by the Single Finger 
Print Identification System. The past tense is used 
here with a definite aim in view which will be ex¬ 
plained briefly. 


Finger Prints are being used, and will be used, as 
a protective agency for Society. They were adopted, 
by the Police, in the first place, as a protective meas¬ 
ure to isolate the criminal element of Society. For 
by taking the finger prints of every person arrested, 
an established identification was given to the offenders 
of Society’s mandates—the law. So when an old of¬ 
fender came before the judge, the history being known; 
the judge was able to discriminate in passing the sen¬ 
tence. P'or all are agreed that the first offender does 
not merit the same treatment as one who has com¬ 
mitted the same offense over and over again. 


Protective measures will be needed even more in 
the future than today. Life is running on high gear. 
The world’s pace is faster. Invention has brought 
many things to use that has completely altered our 
mode of living, and our thoughts. Society does not 


126 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


progress without paying a price for the advance made. 
The price being paid today for the quickened vibra¬ 
tion of so called civilization, is seen in the increased 
number of inmates of the insane asylumns, jails, pen¬ 
itentiary’s, and poor-houses--?’nd also the ‘slums’ in 
the crowded centers of population. 


When the number of youths, and girls, that are 
daily brought into the courts are considered, and 
when, after the judges have done everything humanly 
possible to save sending these young people to prisons, 
they finally have to send them to prison because of 
renewed offenses; it is very evident to the clear mind¬ 
ed, that there is something wrong in the way these 
boys and girls are trained. 


We are dealing with facts in the science of finger 
printing. So we view this fact; the problem the youth 
today presents, and offer a protective agency to all who 
are wise enough to utilize it. 


These things are only hinted at, because a tech¬ 
nical work of this character is no place for a discuss¬ 
ion of them. But “the handwriting on the wall” 
says, business will have to adopt every precaution and 
apply such protection as can be had. 


Owing to the predominance of the ‘.Loop patterns 
in the file, the largest amount of attention is given to 
Loops in this system; with the results, that the Loops 
are the easiest pattern to find if the individual char¬ 
acteristics have been properly observed. If the class- 
ifving and charting are correctly performed, there 
will be absolutely nothing to prevent each and every 


IDENTIFICATION CHARTS 


127 


finger print in the file being identified in a few min¬ 
utes at any time it happens to be wanted. 


The separation of the types of the patterns being 
accomplished so that each one could be registered, the 
next problem was how to register them so that 
one could be immediately located if wanted. Seeing 
that each finger impression had so many attributes, 
this was not readily answered. It was only after 
long, and repeated experiments, that the answer was 
supplied. 


To count the ridges between two points is simple— 
but in trying to index or register finger prints, this 
single count was useless because of the repetition of 
the same number. Then two counts were tried, only 
to find the sameness of repetition again. This repe¬ 
tition of the numbers would necessitate so many rec¬ 
ords having to be drawn from the file in course of a 
search; so the two counts had to be abandoned, and 
three counts were tried successfully. 


Finding three counts that would prove consistent, 
and, at the same time, supply a numerical progression, 
the Crosskey Identification Chart was devised so that 
each impression would fall into a limited zone or 
area. Plate 6. 


So that the reader may see how easily a finger 
print record may be charted, we will register a few 
prints with details. 


an-* Lrrs :r>zx TIF'S 


128 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 




































































































































































































































































































































































































































t 





























8 ? 





































































































































































































































_ 

- 

































































































































































































1 





















< 4 . 































































































































































IDENTIFICATION CHARTS 


129 


The Single Finger Print Identification System is 
comprised of a plurality of the Crosskey Identification 
Charts. The segregations of the patterns are known 
by a symbol which is placed upon each of the thirty 
(30) charts to make the sub-division. There are 
thirty six (36) sub-divisions in all, as follows: 


R. 

Numbered from 

1 

to 

30 

R,l. 

>> yy 

1 

to 

30 

R,2. 

yy >> 

1 

to 

30 

R,x. 


1 

to 

30 

R,z. 

>> >> 

1 

to 

30 

R,i. 

yy yy 

1 

to 

30 

R,s. 

yy 

1 

to 

30 

U. 

yy yy 

1 

to 

30 

U,l. 

yy yy 

1 

to 

30 

U,2. 

yy yy 

1 

to 

30 

U,x. 

yy yy 

1 

to 

30 

U,z. 

yy yy 

1 

to 

30 

U,i. 

yy yy 

1 

to 

30 

U,s. 

yy yy 

1 

to 

30 

W. 

yy yy 

1 

to 

30 


133 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


w,l. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

W,2. 

>> 

tt 

1 to 30 

W,e. 

it 

tt 

1 to 30 

W,L. 

»» 

tt 

1 to 30 

W,s. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

TL 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

TL,s. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

LP 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

LP,s. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

CP. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

CP,o. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

CP,s. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

A. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

A,i. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

A,s. 

it 

tt 

1 to 30 

T. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

T,s. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

Ac. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

Ac,s. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

C. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 

C,s. 

tt 

tt 

1 to 30 


IDENTIFICATION CHARTS 131 






H 

O 

> 

u 

V 

to 

TJ 



s 

cm 



£ 

o 

-P -r* 

S3 -P 
•h a} 

P o 

Ph ri 

* H 
4 > (0 
U) 0) 
>4 ctf 

•H rH 
Ch O 


<o 

CM 


tO 


xi 

V 

3? 

* 


CM 
H 

*L 

*4 


4> 

Ml 

fl 

•H 

ps* 

X 

0) 


IW 


■J 

\ 


s. 





Plate 






















132 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


For keying purposes, there are two kinds of key 
cards. One for use where ten fingers are registered 
in this system, Plate No. 8; and the small 3 x o card 
already used for name, and numerical systems for bus¬ 
iness purposes. Plate No. 7. To create a chart that 
would permit more than a keying space was out of the 
question—it would prove unwieldy, and too large for 
filing purposes. When a single finger print is used 
for business purposes, the usual 3x5 card may carry 
the impressions, without any alteration of its present 
uses. 


If it is an ordinary Finger Print Record that is 
to be registered, the separate classifications will be 
first made, and then a key number given to the print. 
This done, it is ready for registering in the Single 
Finger Print Identification System. Plate No. 9. is 
a print that has a classification reading 

1 U I I 7 

1 U I I 8 

it may be registered by the following process. 


First. Each of the patterns are carefully re¬ 
garded so as to place each type in the proper sub¬ 
division or segregation. The right thumb of Plate 
No. 9. has a single rod running up the center of a well 
defined right slope loop, so R,l., is written in the upper 
left hand corner. The middlle finger also calls for an R., 
right slope Loop, so a R, is placed in the upper left 
hand corner. The middle finger also calls for a R., 
while the ring finger has a single rod in the center, 
making it a R,l. to be placed in the proper corner. 
The little finger has a R., placed in the upper left 
hand corner. 



IDENTIFICATION CHARTS 


133 


CROSS KEYS JDBK Sp TIFICATIOX CU iRT 
















































































































































































































































































































































































• 

















































































































































-- 










Plate 8. 

























































































































134 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Starting with the left thumb, the same work is 
done with the lower row of impressions, regarding each 
digit in th<5 same regular order and placing its type in 
the upper left hand corner. The print is then ready 
for the counts to be made. 


Commencing with the right thumb, the first count 
between the Inner Terminus (IT) and the delta is made. 
13 ridges intervene between these two points. Then, 
following the delta line to a point vertically under the 
Inner Terminus, the second count is taken; it is 7. 
Then counting from the Inner Termini to the flexure 
of the joint, the third count of 17 is obtained. The 
second count of 7 is placed in the lower left hand cor¬ 
ner of the impression and the third count of 17 is 
placed on the right hand side . 


The index finger is next in order. The first 
count is 3. The second count is 7, and the third 
count is 11, all of which are placed as shown on Plate 
No. 9. Passing along to each finger in turn, going 
from the right little finger to the left thumb, and fol¬ 
lowing each row of impressions in regular order, it 
takes but a short time to prepare a finger print rec¬ 
ord so that the number of ridges may be registered. 


Now this print is ready to be registered on the 
Identification Charts. Pulling the 13th chart of the 
R,l., segregation, the eye travel's to the second row 
beyond the first heavy line; which is the seventh ver¬ 
tical column. Picking out the third heavy line down¬ 
ward, we count two zones below it, this is the 17th 
horizontal zone. In this zone, known as the 7th 
vertical and 17th horizontal zones; the key number 
is placed. Before replacing this 13th chart, take a 


IDENTIFICATION CHARTS 


135 




1. Right Thumb 


2. K. Forefinger 


3 —R. Middle Finder 


4. R. Ring Finger 


5 - B. Little Finger 


lefThand 


\ LEFT HAND \ 


6. L Thumb 


7. L. Forefinger 


I.. Middle l'’:ng* r 


— I. Ring Fing«r 


10. I.cft Little Finger 


l , Iai*f / jrriprt 


LEFT 1 

four >fnger 


HAND 


impression of the four ^fngtrs TAKEN SIMULTAKKOl SLY. 


RIGHT HAND 

Plain impression of the four fuigers TAKEN 



Plate 9 



































136 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


look at the first counts of the other impressions —if 
one of them will register on the same chart, it will 
save replacing and repulling to use it while it is out. 
Then in regular order pull the other charts and place 
the key number for the rest of this print. 


As long as the keying cards are kept intact, the 
impressions on this print may always be located in a 
few minutes after once being registered. It will be 
found best, as well as quickest, to perform the pre¬ 
paratory work as given here-Tor there is a similarity 
of patterns on most peoples hands. Notice on Plate 
No. 11 that the ring and little lingers register on the 
same chart. The author has found prints where no 
less than eight fingers registered on two charts, mak¬ 
ing a total of four charts pulled for registeration. 
Even three charts have taken care of ten digits. The 
less pulling that is done, the quicker the work. So by 
making all the counts at one time in readiness for reg¬ 
istering each impression, time and labor will be saved. 


When a chart .is pulled, it is good practice to run 
the eye over the registered impressions to see if there 
are any more that will go upon that chart. It is 
surprising how similarity runs through some of the 
prints of the same person, 


Although personal similarity is very noticable 
it is not so close, or so close or observable in the im¬ 
pressions that happen to have the same three counts 
of different individuals. For in the Loop sub-divisions 
about one in 700 will be found to be repeatecf. That 
is, one impression will be found to have identically 
the same three counts on some one of the 700 Loop 


IDENTIFICATION CHARTS 


137 


S'- 


RIGHT SARD. 


RIGHT HAND. 




J.—Right Thumb. 


2.—R Fore Fioger. 


3.—R. Middle FIag«r. 


4.—R. Ring Finger. 


5,~-R. Little Fiugcj 


LEFT 


h)&D. \ 


\ 


LEFT HAND 



Plate 10 





























138 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


impressions registered. But the similarity ceases with 
the counts. The difference is such a marked one, 
that under any ordinary circumstance, it will never 
be mistaken for the imprint intended. 


Plate No. 11. is presented to show the difference 
that is made by careless counting. This print was taken 
out of the file with the counts written upon it as shown. 
The sub-classification is correct, it could not be other¬ 
wise; but if the counts on the left index had been 9 
instead of 2, or that of the right middle finger had 
been 10 instead of 5, and the same miscounting had 
been done, it would have required considerable search¬ 
ing to locate the print. for instead of the reading 


being 


1——§ it would have b^en 
, U I I 


1 U 10 9 

1 U 10 9 


The single finger print classifications are: 

Right thumb. R/12/7/9. Ibl. Fa 2&S&4/5&6/ 

10. Ea, 11. Fb, 2&3/6/11&12. 

Right index R, 1/2/11/14. Fa&b. 2. Fb, 1&2/2. 

Right middle R/5/12/16. C, 4&5. Fb, 1&2. 

Right ring R,1/9/7/15. Fa 1&2/3&4/5&6. 

Ea,8. Fb,l/6&7. Eb,3/4/6. 


Right little 


R,l./9/7/15. Fa, 2&3/5&6. Fb 
3&4. S9. 


Left thumb 


U/10/11/22. Fa, 1&2/7&9/8&9 
Fb, 1/5. lo5. 






IDENTIFICATION CHARTS 


139 


Left index 

Left middle 
Left ring 

Left little 


U/3/10/13. Fa, 2&3. Fb, 1&2/2& 
3/3&OT. 


U/3/14/16. Fa, 2&3. Ea, 2&3 
Fb, l&2/dF3. 

U,/l/8/7/15. Fa, 2&3/4&5/8&9. 
Fa,o, 5&6 Fb, 6&7. C, 8&D. 


U,/l/9/4/17. Fa, 6&7. Ea, 9. Fb, 
2/3/S/7&8. 1,6. 


Compare them. Count them. Analyze them 
for your own satisfaction and TitY and find one sim¬ 
ilar in every detail! A Higher Intelligence than 
ours placed the corrugated markings, named ridges, 
upon the fingers of man; which, considered under the 
light of evolution, are commencing to be recognized 
for a predestined use; viz, identification of the indiv- 
dual. 


Plate No. 11. is ready for registering. Commenc¬ 
ing , ith the right thumb, chart R, 12., is pulled and 
the key number of the impression placed in the 7th 
vertical and 19th horizontal zones. Each finger is 
then charted in regular order. Although nine charts 
will be required to register this finger print record, 
only four of the 36 segregations will be used. The 
ail hor has, when making a search, been able to locate 
the print v anted through 'he similarity of the patterns 
of the individual. This print is a good example. 
Ob -erve tfm close likeness. Alike yet unlike, because 
every derail that goes into its similarity differs from 
every other. 


140 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 




9.—L. Ring Finger, 

d 




Plate 11 































IDENTIFICATION CHARTS 


141 


Plate No.12. is a very unique example of a finger 
print record. It has all nine regular patterns upon it. 
Necessitating the pulling of ten different charts for 
registering it. 


There is no need to draw the lines upon a print 
in order to classify it. They are only shown on the 
illustrations to settle the Termini for the readers ob¬ 
servation. The classifying completed, charting is 
commenced with the right thumb, and each finger 
registered in regular order. The first count of the 
Ac. on this print is 1. the OT are always the nearest 
delta to the IT. The upstanding Loop is so promi¬ 
nent that it makes the ideal Termini on what is a com¬ 
plex patteih. The Arch pattern has an elongated 
island—which is used for charting purposes whenever 
one can be found. The first bifurcation above the 
island is the first forking or triple bifurcation, which 
would have been very convenient for counting pur¬ 
poses—if the island had not appeared. With ordin¬ 
ary care being used, there is absolutely no reason to 
have a single finger impression in the file that cannot 
be located in a few minutes if wanted. The Identifi¬ 
cation Bureau with a file so indexed and registered will 
quickly forge ahead in results—because of being able 
to exhibit real efficiency. 


The Single Finger Classification as herein described 
may be used for general purposes, but not for regis¬ 
tering a finger print as a permanant record. Only the 
purchase of a file of the “Crosskey Identification 
Charts and Key cards” allow the full, complete use of 
this System for permanent registration of finger 
prints. 


142 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Plate 12. 































IDENTIFICATION CHARTS 


143 


The Single Finger Print Identification System may 
be obtained from the “Crosskey Single Finger Print 
System” of San Francisco, California. The System 
will be available in the best up-to-date compact form, 
and in several syles that will make the System most 
adaptable for the business wherein it may be used. 


Plate No. 18 illustrates a cabinet to contain the 
Crosskey Single Finger Print System for registration 
of finger print records that are classified by the “Henry 
System.” Millions of impressions may be registered 
in this cabinet which occupies less than one square 
yard of floor space. 


Plate No. 19 is a cabinet to hold the Crosskev Sin- 
ole Finger Print System for Commercial purposes. It 
will hold and register millions of single finger prints 
and only occupies about three guarters of a yard oi 
boor space. • A small piece of furniture supplying 
PREVENTION, PROTECTION, and giving scientific 

results. 


144 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 







LOCATING INDIVIDUAL PRINTS 


On page 32 of Mr. Frederick Kuhne’s book, “The 
Finger Print Instructor”; figure No. 41.. shows the 
photographic reproduction of the rolled and plain im¬ 
pressions of three fingers. They are reproduced in 
this work with Mr. Kuhn’s permission. Plate No. 13. 


To convince the skeptic, it will be shown from 
these well-known prints, that the illustrations herein 
used, are net picked studies for the purpose of demon¬ 
strating the efficiency of the Single Finger Print 
Identification System. The use of the three plain im¬ 
pressions to find the finger print record to which 
they belong, is just the same as using a latent that 
has been obtained at the scene of a crime. They are 
a convincing witness of the ease with which this sys¬ 
tem is operated. 


The classification of the first Whorl is —^-— 

11 21 

for transmitting over the telegraph wire, it would be 
written W, s/10/11/21. 


The middle Whorl has a classification of 
or as written W,e/15/5/20. 


W,e 15, 
5 20 


The classification of the .hoop is 
as written U,1/15/3/17 




17 





146 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The positions of these fingers on the respective 
Charts on which they would be charted is shown by 
the letter “R”, indicating a rolled impression in the 
zone in which the classifying counts place the finger 
print. Plates 14-15-16. 


With the rolled impressions now indexed on the 
Identification Charts, we will now classify the plain 
impressions in the same order. 


The first Whorl would be W, 2 if it were not 
scarred. Which should not be overlooked in case the 
scar was the result of on injury since the impression 
was charted, for if not found in the W, s division, the 
W, 2 should be looked at. 


W,s 

So yy p is written in the upper left hand cor¬ 
ner. ’ J 


Locating the inner terminus, a count of the rid¬ 
ges is made to the outer termini, which is at the 
right of the delta on this Whorl; 9 is the result. 
On account of the impressions scarred condition, we 
are not certain that 9 is the corect count, So 9 
plus is written in the upper right hand corner. 


Then following the line that has the appearance of 
being the delta line, to a point vertically under the 
inner termini, a count of 10 is made and placed in the 
lower left hand corner. Then counting from the 
vertical starting point to the inner termini, a third 
count of 12 is obtained, which added to the second 
"ount of 10 makes a total of 22 to be written in the 
bwer right hand corner. 


rmemoy crjtr 


LOCATING INDIVIDUAL PRINTS 


147 



Plate 14 






















































































































































































































148 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Plate No. 14 shows a Crosskey Identification 
Chart, with the rolled impression charted in the cor¬ 
rect zone, marked “R”. The classification of the 
plain impression took the search to W,s. No. 9. 
As this print was not to be found on that chart, and 
the plus mark showed that the count of 9 was not 
authentic, we have pulled the 10th Chart, Plate No. 
14 which shows the zone (P) the classification of 
the plain impression would direct to. 


So that any possibility of error having been made, 
a good search would cover the area marked 3 
above, 3 below, and 3 on each side of the zone a 
classification leads to. This practice will overcome 
any chance of error in making the counts when chart¬ 
ing for registeration any finger print. This does 
not mean that each finger print record will have to be 
pulled from the file so that a comparison can be made. 


A key number is placed in the zone which repre¬ 
sents the finger print. The key cards have the 
classification of each finger written upon it, so by 
just looking at the classifications of any key number, 
it is quickly ascertained if it is necessary to pull the 
print. 


By making a search in the area indicated on 
P ate No. 14. forty one chances to one are provided 
against a mistake being made. The ' operator will 
soon find out for himself the best way to look for any 
single finger print, for the mainy variations that can 
occur make the subject too exhaustive for continued 
examination in a book. As long as the counting is 
done as correctly as possible, with due notice taken of 


LOCATING INDIVIDUAL PRINTS 


149 


which way more ridges could be added to the counts, 
the principle for locating prints remains stationary. 


Looking at the middle impression, it is found to 
be an extra large Whorl. On regarding it with more 
attention, we see that it is a Whorl with an ellipti¬ 
cal appearance, so W,e is written in the upper left 
hand corner. Being plainly evident that the left 
delta is the nearest delta, a count is started from the 
ini er terminus to the outer terminus, which is a dot at 
the left delta. 15 ridges are found to intervene be¬ 
tween the termini’s. Then tracing the left delta line— 
which runs into the 15th ridge, it is followed to its 
end and on to the ridge below until a point vertically 
Under the inner terminus is reached, and the ridges 
down to the flexure are counted; the result is 5. 
Going back to the starting point of the vertical count, 
we commence counting the ridges toward the inner 
terminus, finding 16, they are added to the 5 pre¬ 
viously had, making a total of 21, w r hich is placed 
in the lower right hand corner. 


Classifying the plain impression of this Whorl, 

W e. 15. 

w r e obtain - - — It will be observed that 

the third ridge on the rolled impress¬ 

ion, counting from the bottom at the left side, does 
not run so far under the center of the pattern as it 
does in the plain impression, hence, we have one more 
count on the plain impression than there is on the 
rolled print. 


Pulling Chart W,e. No. 15. from the file and 
looking in zone 5/21 — where the “P” is marked, w T e 
do not see anything so the next zone is tried, and all 



150 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Plat 2 15 




















































































































LOCATING INDIVIDUAL PRINTS 


151 


four surrounding' zones, to find the key number in the 
zone immediately above the area that the classification 
of the plain impression registered. 


U,l. 15, 

The classification of the rolled Loop is 3 17 

written. U, 1/15/3/17. 

Its position is marked on the Chart, by the letter “R”. 


Classifying the plain Loop, we are not going to be 
certain that any numbers taken from it are going to 
be correct, as there is but one established starting 
point to work from—the inner terminus. By counting 
all that can be seen on the plain impression, we secure 

a classification of — to commence a search 
with. 1 + 14 + 

Pulling Chart U, 1. No. 15. and looking at 1/14 
the print is not located, so we commence working 
downward and to the right—the plus behind the num¬ 
bers showing we are not certain, but that more ridges 
are on this finger, so as we eliminate each zone in turn, 
we finally get over to the 5th and 17th zones—counting 
the rolled impressions we can see that the difference 
was caused by the plain impression being marked to 
the flexure. 

This search for the U,l. Loop may have caused 
15 to 20 prints having to be pulled. But when you 
stop to consider the number of loops in the ordinary 
file, and that there is no scientific w^ay in which to 
locate any single loop in that file; it is apparent that 
the activities of a search are wonderfully narrowed 
dowm to the lowest expected basis by the use of the 
Single Finger Print Identification System. 




152 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Plate 16 




















































































































































LOCATING INDIVIDUAL PRINTS 


153 


CROSS SETS IDEX 


Key 

Uuml>er 



TIFICAJION CS.iST. 


Richard Doe 




Richard Roe 


















R> 

<r 

W], 

// 

Vy£ 

i 

W'< 

it. 

R, 

tp 

27 I 0 0 17+ 


H 

a 

u 

9 


if 

w- 

7 

Lo 

12 I I I 16 

o 

(0 

j-P 

n. 

TL 

f 

w, 


</« 

/C 


iL 

LO 

n 

£</ 

tt 

IV 

f 

Li* 

1 

/3 













































C 

u 

9 

WL 

/ 1 

Ti- 

f 

AA 

At- 

11 R 

ff 

Li* 

fit 

n 

Hi'Of 

<7 

L% 

ti 

Li 

15 - at 

Oi 

r<? 

CP 

// 

ffj t 

ft* 

2-t 

T 

u 


3 

n 

/X 

13 

'6 

/5 


LO 

'? 

A? 























\ 































* 

























































































































































































































































«—12- 


Plate 17 
































































































154 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Plate 18. 




























































LOCATING INDIVIDUAL PRINTS 




Plate 19 



























































LATENTS 


Securing Latents has become a regular part of 
an Identification Bureau's day's work. It is pro¬ 
ductive work. In many instances the results are 
wonderful and surprising. The worst feature is that 
as a general rule, there are not enough latents picked 
up at the scene of a crime, to supply a ready guide to 
the finger print record wanted for comparison; con¬ 
sequently, a great deal of time is wasted in fruitless 
search of the file for the original of the latents. The 
Single Finger Print Identification System will elim¬ 
inate all this wasted effort and save time. Directly 
a latent is picked up, it may be classified, and by 
looking in the area of the zone it would be registered in 
an identification would be made in quick order. Fif¬ 
teen minutes work with this system will save days, 
even weeks of useless file searching. 


“When Augustus Estrada, alleged master burglar, 
forced an entrance to the home of Mrs Mary Johnson 
of this city, the night of November 26th, 1918. and es¬ 
caped with loot valued at several thousand dollars, he 
reckoned without the science of finger printing. 


Just before he left the residence he picked up a 
glass on the kitchen sink and took a drink, aud as a 
result of that act he is serving sentence in San Quentin 
today. Little did he realize then, that his thirst was 
to cost him his liberty for 10 years. 


LATENTS 


157 





Plate 20. 


15S 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Estrada was arrested and convicted through the 
one lone finger print which he left upon the glass. 
It was the sole piece of evidence against him, but it was 
sufficient to convince a jury of his guilt. So thor¬ 
oughly did Fred B. Kutz, Superintendant of the local 
identification bureau, enlighten the jury on the science 
of finger prints, that they returned a verdict of“guilty’ , 
in less than 20 minutes. 

The case was reported aud investigated in the 
regular routine manner. Detectives visited the John¬ 
son residence and secured a list of the loot. But were 
unable to find any clues by which the burglar might 
be identified. The only hope of the detective was to 
apprehend the thief when he tried to dispose of the 
loot. 


Then Superintendent Kutz was called to investi¬ 
gate the case. Somewhere within the four walls of 
the Johnstone home, he knew that he would find some¬ 
thing the burglar had touched. He found dozens of fin¬ 
ger prints on various articles in the house, but minute 
examination proved they had been left by members 
of the household. He was about to leave, when sub- 
denly he spied the g’lass in the sink. 


Closely questioning members of the family, Kutz 
learned that they had not touched the glass since the 
house was burglarized. It was evident that the fresh 
print which Kutz found upon the side of the glass had 
been left by the burglar. The print found by Kutz 
was hardly discernable to the untrained eye, but by 
a simple process known to all finger print experts, he 
soon made it clearly visible. Plate No. 21 shows the 
latent Mr. Kutz lifted, and Plate No. 20 is the rolled 
impression of the same finger 



Plate 21. 








160 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The ridges of the fingers are studded with small 
pores that exude a continues flow of oily prespiration 
This flow leaves the surface of the fingers constantly 
moist, and as a result when the finger is touched to 
any smooth surface, a mark results that is an exact 
impression of the ridges. These impressions are some 
times blurred and hard to see, but in most cases they 
can be brought out sufficiently for comparative pur¬ 
poses. 


Such impressions left on light colored surfaces are 
brought out by sprinkling black powder over them 
with a small brush. The powder falls off the smooth 
surface and sticks only to the oily impression left by 
the ridges of the fingers. In a similar manner, im¬ 
pressions left on dark colored surfaces are developed 
with chemist’s gray powder. After the impressions 
are brought out on the hard surfaces, they are usu¬ 
ally photographed and the photos enlarged. This 
phase of the science is known as the “developing of 
latent prints”. 


And so it was by this method that Superintendent 
Kutz developed and photographed the latent print on 
the glass from which Estrada had taken a drink. 


Three days after Kutz visited the Johnson home 
four suspects were arrested in connection with the 
crime. They were all closely questioned but all 
proved alibis. Estrada, one of the suspects chuckled 
softly to himself. The loot was hidden where it would 
liever be found, and he was certain the police could 
prove nothing against him, but again he reckoned 
without the science of finger prints. When Estrada 
entered the Bertillion room and was finger printed 


LATENTS 


161 


Superintendent Kutz noticed at a glance that the 
pattern of his right fore finger was identical with the 
impression found on the glass in the Johnson home. 


Not until he was on the way to San Quentin 
would Estrada admit his guilt. 


Estrada was the first criminal in Los Angeles 
County to be convicted directly upon finger print evi¬ 
dence. The case was the second in the state in which 
finger prints figured in a criminal conviction. Just ten 
days before Estrada’s trial, two safe crackers v, e: e sent 
to prison in San Diego on similar evidence. 


Finger Print evidence, properly prepared, is the 
strongest kind of evidence, in the opinion of experts. 
According to figures complied by the Goverment Bu¬ 
reau of Identification, there is only one chance in 
28,147,504,070,656 of any two persons having identi¬ 
cal prints. * Plate No. 20. is the inked impression of 
Estrada’s right forefinger. 


The following four illustrations were picked up 
by Sup’t Kutz. The well known pattern that is prin¬ 
ted on the back of a certain make of fly-paper is read¬ 
ily recognized This burglar made a practice of past¬ 
ing fly-paper over the surface of a window, then 
breaking the glass, he was able to unlock the window 
catch and make an entrance. If his prints had been 
registered on a Crosskey Identification Chart, an 
identity could have been established after the first 
cri ne, and a series of burglaries averted. 


Sunday Morning Telegram, Long Beach, California 
January 15th 1922. 


162 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Plate 22 





LATENTS 


163 



Figure No. 135. 


Figure No. 135. is a splendid example of latent 
development on a dark surface. Although not per¬ 
fect, because of the absence of the deltas; it would 
have been quickly ‘made’ if the owners prints were 
on file and registered in this system. 


It is stated elsewhere in this book that deltas are 
not absolutely necessary on the guide to be able to 
find the right finger print record. We will now 
analyze the left latent of this illustration, and show 
how the search is confined so as to give the possible 
results in the quickest time. 


The author does not know what the latents were 
found upon, or their position. This information is 
a factor in determining whether they are right or 
left hand latents. From the small portion of the 






164 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 




Figure No. 136 










LATENTS 


165 


upper part of the ridges that is visible, an indication 
is obtained that the latents are right hand middle 
and ring fingers. 



Figure No. 137. 


The pattern and type of pattern is clearly estab¬ 
lished. It is a single spiral Whorl that falls into the 
W, 1., segregation. The third count is available. 
It is 24, with a possibility of being 25 or 26. 


The nearest delta is evidentially upon the right 
of the pattern. The contour of the ridges give this 
indication. It may be estimated that 13 ridges is 
about the first count. With a piece of scratch paper 
to figure on the second count is worked out—giving 
one of 13. So we have a classification reading W,l/ 
13/13/24 to work from. 






. Id. chart, a look is taken 
J tiro -,-lth horizontal zones to 
' : erjd in that zone. If a num- 
*nor card is pulled, the regular 
vd the finger print record is 
o’' (1 i comparison made. 


h.' r v , in i - wanted, a search is made 
1 and 16th vertical column, from the 
i on;al zones. Placing 30 zones 
no located on the 13th Chart, go 
’ho 12 h, 14th and 15th Charts. 
T 11 orickly show how to elimin- 
^ ^orribls producers, and will give 
” vhh ti e easiest method 

**** ,-x 














LATENTS 


167 



Wmm 


mmmm 

»i'i 




> .M* 


Figure No. 139. 

Because this shows an area of 30 zones to ex¬ 
amine it does not necessarily imply that 30 individual 
finger print records will have to be taken from the 
file. Owing to the similarity of the patterns on the 
individual the search will be confined to a few prints 
so it will be found in examining 30 zones, that there are 
so many fingers on the same finger print record,that 
the number of prints to scrutinize for comparitive 
purposes is negligible when compared with the fact, 
that no idea was to be had of which one of the many 
sections of the file could supply the finger print record 
wanted. 

F : gu>’e No. 139 is the photograph of a man,s hands 
well supplied with digits. 










168 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The following seven illustrations of latents were 
donated by Chief of Police August Vollmer,of Berkeley 
California. A working classification may readily be 
made from these latents so if they had been registered 
in this system it would have been a simple matter to 
find the owners—providing of course, the owner’s had 
been finger printed. 






















LATENTS 


169 










170 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


X ' 



a r 3 h9 BB 

• «u vA«B 















l-at: 





Plate 24 
























172 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Photographing' latents has created a demand for 
a practical and exficient camera for producing accurate 
photographic records of finger prints, which would 
require no expert knowledge of photography for its 
successful operation. 


This has been provided in the new F & S Finger 
Print Camera. Its small size (11 3/4 X 6 X 6 in.) 
makes it exceptionally convenient for general use, and 
especially when used in locations inaccessible to ap¬ 
paratus previously employed, which apparatus re¬ 
quired the use of a tripod, as well as means, very often 
difficult to procure, for artificially illuminating the 
subject. 


This camera affords not only a thoroughly efficient 
means for securing photographically accurate records 
of finger prints, but is readily adapted to uses other 
than criminal investigation where accurate photo¬ 
graphic records are desired. 


The camera is equipped with four miniature lamps 
operated by batteries contained in the camera. These 
lamps are located inside the camera, back of the front 
aperture, easily accessible for renewal, and are auto¬ 
matically turned on, brilliantly illuminating the finger 
print or other subject with the act of making the ex¬ 
posure. The lamps may be used in locating, or pro¬ 
perly placing the camera over the finger prints without 
interfering with the shutter mechanism, by pressing 
a small button provided for that purpose. 


The lens consist of an f.6.3 Kodak Anastigmat 
which is unalterably fixed in the camera at a point 
that renders a full sized image of the finger print with 


LATENTS 


173 


extreme definition. The shutter mechanism is ex¬ 
tremely simple, and exposures of various duration 
ctan readily be made. 



When the finger print is located and ready for 
the record to be made the metal front door of the 
camera is opened. The rectangular front aperture 
of the camera which is the dimensions of the plate 
capacity of the instrument, is placed directly over, 
and held firmly against the surface upon which the 
finger print is located, the shutter release lever is 
pressed downward, automatically lighting the lamps, 
and making the exposure. 


An instruction book accompanies the camera giv¬ 
ing full information relative to its operation. A 
Finger Print developing Tank is supplied whereby it 
is made easily possible for even the uninitiated to 
produce excellent negatives. 


To prepare latents for authentic evidence in a 
Court, it will necesary to make enlargements. The 
old hit or miss method of guessing to make an en¬ 
largement is now done away with by using the Kodak. 


174 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Auto-Focus Enlarger, which changes enlarging into 
a printing process almost as simple and as rapid as 
contact printing. 



This facility - a decided innovation in strictly 
amateur apparatus—is accomplished by constructing 
the Kodak Auto-Focus Enlarger to stand vertically 
clamping to any table top, and by incorporating the 
Auto-Focusing principle in the instrument itself. 
Its position obviates fastening the paper to a vertical 
surface - its auto-focusing mechanism eliminates the 
necessity of focusing. 


The manipulation of the apparatus is extremely 
simple. Mask the negative in its holder, slip the 
holder into the camera, snap the electric switch and 
the masked image appears before you, projected on 
the horizontal table top. On this the paper can be 
laid and secured by the paper holder for printing. 

The only adjustment is for the print size—slide 
the camera up or down on its standard and the image 
grows larger or smaller as desired. The mechanically 
accurate, automatic focusing device, which slides on a 




LATENTS 


175 



vertical cam, constantly changes the focus of the lens 
with the result that the image is always hair-sharp 
regardless of its size. When you turn the thumb screw, 
cla.i.pmg the camera at the place on the standard where 
it yields the size image you want, the focus is exact, 
ready for the print to be made. The lens shield or cap, 
operated by turning a little lever, transmits an orange 
light which is bright enough to work by, but which 
will not fog the photographic paper. 


The full significance of what the Kodak Auto- 
Focus Enlarger does can be grasped in an instant by 
comparing this process with ordinary methods of en¬ 
larging cameras where it is necessary to move the cam¬ 
era 5 back and forth to secure the size print desired. 






176 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Then it is necessary to rack the lens to make the print 
sharp at that size—at best an inconvenient unsatisfac¬ 
tory process. With the Kodak Auto-Focus Enlarger, 
when you obtain the size image wanted it is automati¬ 
cally in the exact focus wanted each time. It will take 
the smallest negatives and enlarge them up to the large 
sized print of 14 X 21 inches. Full instructions for 
using are supplied with every instrument. 

Before closing the subject of latents, the author 
would like to call attention to one phase of the respon¬ 
sibility that picking up latents entails upon the finger 
print expert. Society also has a duty to perform to¬ 
wards a person who has paid his debt, by suffering 
imprisonment, for the misdeeds committed against 
society. Although there are laws in most states pro¬ 
viding that no one has a right to cast reflection upon 
a person who has paid his debt to society by suffering 
imprisonment and who has been pardoned, discharged 
or paroled, this law is not always upheld, for when a 
cri ne is committed in any locality, any ex-prisoner or 
paroled person is immmediately placed under or picked 
up on suspicion. In many cases, effort is made to force 
the suspicion to fit the crime, therefore, society owes 
protection to the so-called criminal, who in most cases 
is sincerely trying to lead a useful life. 

Only by the finger print expert functioning to the 
limit of his scientific ability can society extend the 
necessary protection to such persons and thus assist 
in completing the reformation of the erstwhile wrong¬ 
doer. For if the identification expert be capable of 
developing one single finger impression of any indiv¬ 
idual finger imprint found at the scene of crime, he 
will be able, with the aid of the single finger print 
identification charts to quickly eliminate or positively 
identify any ex-prisoner or paroled person who might 
be suspected or accused of the crime. 


DEFINITION OF COMPLEX PATTERNS 

by 

Sir E. R. Henry. 


i he following illustrations are photographic copies 
of questionable types of finger prints that were sub¬ 
mitted to Sir Henry for definition by Mr. C. S. Morrill, 
Superintendent of the California Stale Bureau of Crim¬ 
inal Identification and Investigation, Sacramento, Cal. 


Now that the Internationl Association for Identif¬ 
ication has established a committee to decide upon 
complex, or intricate patterns, the author hopes that 
the finger print profession in general will help this 
committee in its work by submitting questionable pat¬ 
terns to them for decision. By so doing, if arrang- 
ments are made to give out the results of the comm¬ 
ittee’s work so that everyone may share in it, the sci¬ 
ence of finger printing will be benefited and the dili- 
igent, industrious classifier who takes his work with 
proper seriousness, will be aided to give the results 
that are expected from him by his employers, the 
Public. 


178 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Finger print experts need have no hesitation in 
submitting patterns to the above committee, for it is 
composed of practical finger print experts who have 
spent years in the profession during which they have 
helped the science of finger printing to become known 
as the only scientific means of identification. 


Sir E. R. Henry’s definitions are accompanied by 
drawings and shown alongside the pattern: 




The core and delta can be fixed. Loop with three 
counts. 





THE HENRY SYSTEM 


179 


Two deltas with a recurving ridge forming the 
core should be classified as a ‘Whorl’. 

(Author’s note. Notice the similarity of this 
pattern with Fig. 105 and 6.) 



There should le no doubt as to the type in this 
case. There may be some doubt as to position of the 
Inner Terminus. Loop with four counts. 



4 

The ridges at the left side of the summit of Core 
are disturbed. This is due to scarification. The 
Core and Delta can be fixed with a fair degree of 
certainty. Should be classified Loop with four 
counts. When searching records in this case it would 
be expedient to make three searches—U Loop, R 
Loop and Tented Arch. 








180 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



This type is a recurving ridge or staple on either 
side of axis, classified as Tented Arch. 



6 

Same as preceding impression. 


No count. Should be classified as Arch. 






THE HENRY SYSTEM 


181 



Loop with two counts. 



10 

This has somewhat the appearance of being of 
the Twinned Loop type. There being no recurving 






182 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


ridge at (B) its type is that of Loop. When search¬ 
ing records, search should be made under ‘Twinned 
Loop’. 



11 

It would seen that this is the Whorl type and I 
would classify it as such. It may be, however the 
scarification has diverted ridges assimilating a 
recurving ridge. 



13 




THE HENRY SYSTEM 


183 


In case of webbed fingers classification is fixed 
according to the type of each of the two digits. The 
exhibit is badly taken. The type appears to be Loop, 
Central Pocket Loop if of the right hand and Central 
Pocket Loop if of the left hand. 



14 


In types such as this the two ridges forming Core 
are presumed to join. Loop with one count. See 
Number 24. 



Tented Arch 


Tented Arch 






184 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



17 

Loop with three counts. 




Loop with two counts. This print is approxi¬ 
mating a Tented Arch and when searching records 
search should also be made under Tented Arch. 



19 20 

Loop. Tented Arch. 

Approximating Loop 





185 


THE HENRY SYSTEM 





21 

Loop. Scar to right of Delta gives it the appear¬ 
ance of a Lateral Pocket. 

22 

Loop. See illustration 77. in fourth edition 
of my book. 

23 



Loop. 




* 


24 


Classification and Uses of Finger Prints, “by 
Sir E. R. Henry. 




186 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


According to rules I have laid down this would 
not be classified as a Loop because there are no re¬ 
curving ridge inside the delta. In practice it has 
been found more convenient to presume the ridge lines 
marked (o) to join and classify as Loop. 



27 28 


Loop. Number 28. This print is very faint and 
I think it is of iLoop type. 




THE HENRY SYSTEM 


187 



29 


30 


Central Pocket Loop. See Figure No. 26. page 
41 of 4th edition of my book. 



CLASSIFYING THE TWO HANDS 


OF TEN DIGITS 


the patterns 
loops 


The Loop type pattern is so named because the 
formation of the ridges surrounding the core recurve 
in a natural loop. Usually each ridge enters the con¬ 
tour of the pattern on one side of a well defined cen¬ 
ter, called the core, which is situated on the apex of 
the bulb of the fingers, making a loop over the top 
of the core to make an exit from the pattern parallel 
with its entrance. 


The general run of Loops usually outline the pat¬ 
tern at the angle of about 45 c That is, by draw¬ 
ing a line straight down the center of pattern, the 
slope taken by the ridges that constitute the pattern, 
will look upon the paper to assume a position near a 
45 c angle with the straight line. But not always, 
for some Loops enter the pattern from a horizontal 
position, and after making a 50 % turn, run straight 
up the finger on each side of the bulb. Figure 142 
is a sample of this type. 


THE HENRY SYSTEM 


189 


Iti making up a classification so that a representa¬ 
tive formula is derived thereby allowing segregation 
of the print in the file, a certain value is given to the 
different patterns which makes a geometrical progress¬ 
ion by which the finger print records can be filed sys¬ 
tematically. 


Each hand has a set value of one—no matter what 
type cif pattern is on the five fingers. This one is 
added after all the fingers have been counted. 


Loops are represented by a cipher, “O”. No matter 
how many loops are on any hand they do not count 
in making the primary classification. 


If a set of prints are all loops, there is no count; 
so the set value of one (1) is given to each hand so 
a numerical place can be established in the file. Plate 
Number 23 shows a print with the Primary classifi¬ 
cation of one over one; which is written: — 

Loops and Arches supply the key letters for the 
sub-classification. They are indicated by the capital 
letters of the patterns being used as a symbol: U for 
Ulnar, Pv for Radial, A for Arch and T for Tented 

Arch. 


U : 


Plate No. 23 sub-classification is while the 


sub-classification of Plate No. 25 is 


. A 



190 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The index, or first finger of the hands is used 
for sub-classification. If there is an Ulnar Loop 

upon both index fingers it is shown by the symbol *jjj 

If Radial Loops are on both index fingers it is denoted 

Til if an Uhiar Loop is upon the right index 

R 

finger and a Radial Loop is upon the left index finger, 
it would be shown by T> *- 

rv 

The Loop combinations for sub-classifications are: 

U U R R U — R — 

' U R U R — U — R 

The secondary sub-classification is made by ridge 
counting. The number of ridges between the inner 
terminus or core, and the outer terminus at the delta 
are counted; according to their number, they are des¬ 
ignated as inner or outer. The first letter of inner 
or outer is the symbol used to indicate the division. 
I standing for inner, and 0 for outer. 

If the index finger has any number below 7 9, it is 
an I. (inner). If the index finger has ten (10) or more 
ridges it is an 0- (outer). This rule applies to both 
index fingers. 

The next part of the secondary classification is 
made by counting the number of ridges upon the mid¬ 
dle fingers. If the middle finger has any number of 
ridges below and including ten (10) it is an inner, (I) 
If the middle finger has any number of ridges above 
and including-eleven (11) it is an outer, (0). This 
rule applies to the middle fingers of both hands. 


i 









THE HENRY SYSTEM' 


191 


If a Loop follows Loop upon the index and i. iddle 
iingeis, both fingers are shown in the secondary sub¬ 
classification. If a Loop is on the index finger and 
a Composite upon the middle finger, only the Loop is 
designated in the secondary classification. 


It has been found necessary to also classify the 
ring fingei for convenience in handling the prints in 
.extra large files. So another count of two (2), is 
added to the number, making under and including 
thirteen (13) an inner; and fourteen or more an outer. 



Figure No. 142. 


Loops have two names. Ulnar Loops, and Radial 
Loops. Which name is determined by the direction, 
or slant the exit of the Loop takes upon the fingers. 
If the pattern slopes toward the little finger it is an 
Ulner Loop. If the slope is toward the thumb, it is 
a Radial Loop. This reverses the name for the Loops 
on each hand. An Ulnar Loop on the right hand 
sloopes to the right, while the Radial Loop runs in the 
opposite direction to the left. On the left hand, the 
Ulnar Loop slopes to the left, while the Radial Loop 
slopes to the right. Figures No. 145—146 show this 
type. 


192 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 




Figure No. 143. Figure No. 144. 
Right hand Ulnar Loop. Right hand Radial Loop. 










FT HAND 




L. Thumb 


7.—L. Focefingar 


3.--L. Middle Finger 


9.—L. Ring Finger 


10.—Left Little Finger 


SIP _ 

1 .—Right Thumb 


4.—R. Ring Finger 

6.—R. Little Finger 

v<. 7 

« 7 


S.—R. Middle Finger 


SIGHT HAND 

2.—R- Foreflngar 4 

R.I. b 






7 

«(*■'< V.NKPUSLV. 


Plata 25. 
























THE HENRY SYSTEM 


193 



figure No. 145. 
Left hand Ulnar Loop. 


Figure No. 146. 

Left hand Radial Loop. 


If the little finger is a [Loop, the ridges between 
the inner terminus, and the outer terminus, are coun¬ 
ted ; and their number is placed in the classification as 
found. If there are seven (7) ridges, then the num¬ 
eral seven is written above the print, and also on the 
line that carries the complete classification. The 

full reading of Plate No. 23.is 


1 U I I 


9 


Which is read one over one, U over U, I over I, I over I 
seven over nine- On page 194 are several illustrations 
marked with a circle just below the inner terminus and 
an arrow pointing at the outer termini. 








194 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Figure No. 150. Figure No. 151. Figure No. 152. 

There is but one way to correctly learn to make 
up a representative formula for a classification. That 
one way is to actually make up the classifications. 
The simplest way is always best, and by thoroughly 
learning each step in the process, quickness and 
accuracy will be acquired. To aid the reader gain 
proficiency in classifying, a few classifications will 
be made up in correct order. 

Plate No. 26. shows an average record of Loops, 
for which a classification is derived as follows; 


First, each impression has the symbol of its pat¬ 
tern placed under the imprint. Commencing with 
the right thumb, the symbol ‘ \ * is written in the 
proper place; then, in regular order, as named, the 
same action is done for the forefinger, middle, ring, 
and little fingers; then commencing with the left 
thumb , the above method is used in the same order on 
the left hand. 


Secondly a count of the ridges between the Inner 
Terminus, (I. T.) and the Outer Terminus, (0. T.) 
is made, and the number of ridges is written above the 
impression. 






THE If E NEY S'Y STEM 



The right thumb has a count of five; the fore¬ 
finger 2; the middle finger 5; the ring finger,5 , and 
the little finger also has 5. 

Starting with the left thumb, the same action is 
repeated on the left hand on the same order, and the 
print is ready for the classification to be written in. 


With a scratch pad handy toi write upon, the 
third process is commenced by drawing an horizontal 

line on the pad.The fingers are then observed 

in units of two. 

1st pair, the right thumb and forefinger. 

2nd pair, the right middle and ring fingers. 

3rd pair, the right little finger and the left thumb. 

4th pair, the left fore finger and the middle finger. 

5th pair, the left ring and little fingers. 


To classify Plate No.23. it is not absolutely neces¬ 
sary to carry out the full operation of the third pro¬ 
cess in classifying, as a glance over the symbols under¬ 
neath the patterns show that it is a one over one 
primary classification. But it is safest, and easiest, 
for the beginner to learn by actual practice; so the 
process will be outlined. 


With pencil ready to write on the line that is upon 
the scratch pad. the pattern svmbol of the right thumb 
is observed. It shows an Ulnar Loop, so cipher is 



196 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


written on the top of the line near its starting point. 
The right forefinger is next in order, being also- an 
Ulnar Loop, a cipher is placed under the line - and 

0 

under the first cipher: —- 


Then another cipher is placed above the line for 
the right middle finger; also a cipher underneath for 

the right ring finger: —~-jj- 


The Ulnar Loop on the right little finger, and the 
Ulnar Loop on the left thumb also get a cipher a piece: 
0 0 0. ^ 

0 0 0 . 


The left forefinger and middle also 


0 0 0 0 
0 0 0 0 


The left ring and little fingers also being Ulnar 
Loops, complete the five units by receiving the last two 

. • . 0 .0 0 0 . 0 . 

ciphers: - 

‘ . 0 0 0 0 0 


In order to maintain a numerical progression for 
primary purposes in the file, it is necessary that a 
number be assigned to each Finger Print Record that 
is to be placed in the file. So a set value of one (1) 
is given to every hand - irrespective of what patterns 
may be on the fingers of any hand. 











HENRY SYSTEM 


197 


THE 


V" Thumb 

t-H ^or%fing%* 

1—« MVWW m«v | 

4.-R. Ettc Pta«*r 

6.--R. Little Finger 


k-oT 

lPW>Wfpi^r^Sr^igr-- 

K' v 

< r ! 

* <T 

" T~ 

\ 









v' - 



. 

LEFT HAND \ \ 

\ LEFT HAND \ 


4.—L. Thumb 

7.—L. Foreftuger 

8. L. Middle Finger 

9. L. Ring Finger 

10.—L. Little Finger 


u 5- 

u 

u. r 

fix 

/u 



TSffr 

■i'sHf 

1 

M ■ r' l 
’ •*• 

s4.3. 

»• . *• 
v i>.. y 
y^ v>. 

•>* 

** *i,~ . 1 


/ LEFT HAND/ / 

/ Pitta tapmrtw of lb« ter tlag» TAJfcg? SIMULTANEOUSLY/ 

/ RIGHT HAND/ 

Plain imjfeeeion of the four Anger* TAKF^JIM 

JL1 


Plate 2G 




























198 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTE.T 


So at the conclusion of the third operation a one 
(1) as added to the row of ciphers for each hand: 

0 0 0 0 0 + 1 = 1 _ 

0 0 0 0 0 + 1 = 1 


As the ciphers do not total , the primary classifi¬ 
cation is +— The fourth process is making the sub¬ 


classification, which indicate the patterns upon the 
forefingers. On this record, both are Ulnar Loops,so 
the capital letter “U” is written above and below the 


1 U. 


line: 0 0 0 0 0 + 1 


1 U 


0 0 0 0 0 + 1 


The fifth process is the second sub-classification. 
As all the impressions of Plate No. 25 are plain Loops, 
ridge counting constitute the indicators to continue the 
classification. 


As all the numbers below 9 are Inners, on the fore¬ 
finger, an “I” is placed above the line next to the “U”. 

As all numbers below ten (10) are Inners when 
on the middle fingers, another “I” is placed above the 
line next to the first “I”. This is repeated for the 
left forefinger and the left middle finger, with the 
difference that the symbol “I” is placed below the line. 


0 0 0 0 0 4-1 


1U11. 









THE HENRY SYSTEM 


199 


If the file is an extra large size, the count of the 
ring* fingers is also used, but for ordinary files the in¬ 
dex and middle fingers are found to be sufficient. 


The last process in making up the classification 
is the little finger count. On the print we are classi¬ 
fying, it is 5 on the right hand, and 4 on the left hand. 
So the figures 5 and 4 are placed in the proper position, 


making a classification reading 


1 U 1 1 5 

1 U 11 4 


for Plate No. 26. 


Ridg’e counting is not used in what are known as 
the “lettered combinations. If an Arch, or Radial 
Loop happened to be upon one of the other fingers it 
would change this classification. Suppose an Arch 
was upon the right middle finger 


! \! 

\ | 

A 

l\! 

\ 1 

1 

U a 

5 

1 / ! 

/ ! 

/ 

1 / 

1 / 1 

1 

U 

4 


If a Radial Loop and more 

Arches 

appeared, as in 


/_ 

\i\ 

A | 

\ 



A 

/1 / 

1- / 1 

A 

i 

which would read 







1 r 

u 

a 

5. 


1 a U a 











ARCHES 



Figure No. 153. 


The formation of the ridges on the Arch pattern 
is from one side of the bulb of the finger to the other 
side. The ridges make no returning curve. Usu¬ 
ally the ridges curve upward in the center of the 
finger, it is from this form that the name Arch is de¬ 
rived. Figures 153-4-5. 



Figure No. 151. 


Figure No. 155. 



THE HENRY SYSTEM 


201 


Like the Loops, Arches have no set value, so if 
all five fingers happen to be Arches, the set value of 
one (1) supplies the primary classification number. 
If all the ten digits are Arches or Loops and Arches, 


the primary classification is one over one 



Arches are indicated by the capital letter “A” 
supplying the symbol, if an Arch is upon either of 
the index fingers, and the small letter “a” for the 
Arches upon the other fingers. When an Arch occurs 
on either of the index fingers, the print automatically 
falls into what is known as “the lettered combination”. 
This lettered combination has sixteen divisions, which 
in turn is sub-divided by a small letter representing the 
Arches, Tented Arches, or Radial Loops, that appear 
upon other than the index fingers. 


When an Arch appears upon an index finger it 
is indicated in the sub-classification by the capital 
letter “A” ; the following are the combinations in 

which the capital letter “A” show upon the index 

♦ 

„ AUARATA — A 

fingers: A A U A RATA- 


If an Arch is upon all five fingers it is written: 
a A 3a. 


If Arches are upon all ten digits, it is written: 

a A 3a 


a A 3a. 





202 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


If an Arch is upon the middle, ring, or little fin¬ 
gers it is shown by a small ‘a’. If there are two 
Arches, they are shown by writing the numeral 2a, 

a A 2a 

thus: —— -- which shows an Arch upon the 

U a 7 


right thumb, and Arch upon the right hand index, and 
upon either the right hand middle, or ring fingers; 
with an Arch on the little finger. While the left hand 
has all Loops with the exception of the middle or ring 
fingers. If the right hand little finger had had a 
Loop upon it, the count would have shown like it does 
on the left hand. 


Under the heading of “The Order of the File” a 
list of the different combinations will be found. 



Figure No. 156. 





THE HENIIV SYSTEM 


203 



Plate 27 






















204 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


If the right middle finger on Plate No. 26 was 
scarred so badly that the outline of the Loop could 
not be made out, the classification would be somewhat 
changed, as will be shown after classifying this record. 


After placing the pattern symbols under the im¬ 
pressions on Plate No. 26. the frequency of the ‘‘A” 
being noticed; there is no need to repeat the process 
of placing the ciphers over and under the line, being 
Loops and Arches the print falls into the lettered 
combinations, with, of course, a one over one primary 

1 

classification.-i— 


Drawing the horizontal line on the scratch-pad. 
the Arches on the right hand are looked at, and a 
small “a” for the Arch on the thumb, a capital “A” 
for the Arch on the forefinger, is placed above the 

. . 1 a A . 

line, after the — 1 - 


Then looking at the left hand five (5) Arches 
are found, which are expressed by writing “a A 3 a” 
under the line. With the addition of the figure two 
(2) of the right little finger, the classification is com¬ 


pleted. 


1 a A 2 

1 a A 3 a — 


If all traces of the Loop on the right middle fin¬ 
ger were completely obliterated, the pattern would be 
given as an Arch, thus making a classification of 

1 a A a 2 

1 a A 3 a 





THE HENRY SYSTEM 


205 


4. Right Thumb 

2. K. Forefinger 

3.—R. Mnlille Fingtr 1 

1 4.— R. Ring Finger 

5.- R. Lit ik Finger 


■ -iy v'*' 

i&3| 


mff • ■ ' ' ; 

EJr ' f •' 

SfflK 

S 

ft 

L^Ff HAND 

/V 

/ 

\ LEFT HAND ‘ i 

t . - 

* * |. T). <fU4 

7 1- K«»r«-liner 

s, 1.. Mi<Ullo Fiiijjor 

0. - !«.* Ring Finger 

1 10—f,. I.ictk Finger 




/ ' 


— - -" 

ft 

0 ^*- 

H 

' 

"7T" 

1 ./> ••• »../» 

LEFT HAND 

, |..run >r 1 \"K IN SIMI I.T.VN Itl ll’SI.Y 

RIGHT HAND 

»•!*•*» imjirii.ii.n of Ihv four Anm-n TAKK.N S1.W 


& 




















206 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The rule is: If a finger is so scarred, that the 
pattern cannot be understood, or the finger, or the 
fingers, are amputated; the classification is made by 
giving the pattern of the same finger, or fingers, af 
the other hand. 


Plate No. 26. falls into the “A” lettered class. 
First placing the one over one on, and below the line, 
the Arches are indicated by “a A 2 a 5 ’ for each 


hand. 


1 a A 2 a 
1 a A 2 a 


Plate No. 26 has a classification that reads: 

1 A a 4 . 

1 A 2 a 



TENTED ARCHES 



Figure No. 157. 


The formation of the pattern in a Tented Arch 
has one or more ridges that run for a short distance 
toward the nail erf the finger, thus forming a rod 
that may be likened to the pole of a tent, as the rest 
of the ridges take a curving turn over the top of this 
rod; hence the name Tented Arch is derived from the 
general appearance of a tent which the pattern posesses 
Figure No. 157. 


Tented Arches come within what is termed the 
lettered combination of the file. The capital letter 
“T” is its symbol, and indicates that a Tented Arch 
is upon one of the index fingers. A Tented Arch has 
no numeric value in preparing the primary classifi¬ 
cation. If all the fingers are T’s or A’s, or Loops 
on one hand, the hand receives the numeric value of 



208 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


one (1), which allows the print to be placed in the one 



Figure No. 158. Figure No. 159. 

When a Tented Arch appears upon an index fin¬ 
ger it is indicated in the sub-classification by the cap¬ 
ital leter “T”, the following are the combinations 
in which the letter “T” show upon the index fingers: 

TTUTRAT — T 
TUT It T T AT — 


Figure No. 162. has an appearance of being a 
Tented Arch, but close observation will plainly show 



Figure No. 160. 


Figure No. 161. 















209 


THE HENRY SYSTEM 


a well defined Foop and delta with a count of two. 


When classifying* Tented Arches, classify them 
the same as Arches only using the symbol “T” instead 
of “A”. 



Figure No. 162. 



210 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 





Plate 28 




























WHORLS 



The formation of the ridges on the Whorl pattern 
are either round, or elipitical. making at least one com¬ 
plete turn inside of the deltas. 


Some Whorls have ridges that run in circles like 
Figure No. 163. Others have ridges that take an ellip¬ 
tical formation like Figure No. 164. Then there is the 
spiral type of Whorl, like Figure No. 165. which is a 
single spiral Whorl similar to Figure No. 166. 





212 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Figure No. 164. Figure No. 165. 


Some Whorls are very small, 
very large. 


Figure No. 166. 

while others are 


Care is necessary not to confuse the Composite 
patterns with the Whorls. The Composites are: 
Twinned Loops, Central Pocket Loops, Lateral Pocket 
Loops, and Accidentals. Only by tracing some of the 
ridges with the counting pointer when in doubt, can 
the difference be clearly defined. 


The Whorls, and the Composites, supply the 
numerical primary classification—which is the index 
to the file, and denoted by the numerals preceeding 
the letters of the sub-classification; with the exception 
of the one over one divisions, which indicate that 
Loops and Arches only are in those divisions. 


In order to make the primary classification, the 
fingers are divided into five pairs, with the following 
set values being always given to the Whorls and Com¬ 
posites : 


THE HENRY SYSTEM 


213 


1st Pair, right thumb and right index finger 
16 each. 


2nd Pair right middle and right ring fingers 
8 each 


3rd Pair right little finger and left thumb 
4 each. 


4th Pair, left index and left middle fingers 
2 each. 


5th Pair, left ring and left little fingers.1 each. 


Total 31 for each hand. 


The total numbers of the first fingers of each 
pair is known as the denominator, and the total of 
the numbers of the second fingers of each pair is the 
numerator. If a Whorl, or a Composite is upon each 
of the ten digits, a total of 31 is made for each hand; 
to the 31 a set number of one is given, making a total 
of 32 for each hand—which is the highest number 
that can be made. The following illustration shows 
how the numerator and denominator are obtained. 


So to place the numerator and the denominator 
in the proper positions, after the numbers are added, 
and with the fixed number of one (1) also added; the 
totals are inverted when placed upon the classification 
line. Observe that only the numerals are inverted. 



214 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 



Hight Hand Left Hand 


By giving the Loops and Arches when on the five 
fingers of each hand, a set value of one, and the num¬ 
bered combinations of 16, 8, 4, 2 and 1. for the Whorls 
and Composites, there are more than 1024 variations 
of the formula for classification that can be made and 
used for filing purposes. 


Rutland 

Left band 


T 

T 

¥ 

0 

7 

L 

w 

L 

W 

L 


10 

9 


10 

L 

L 

L 

w 

L 


o o ooi - hi = 2 sr~i .7_ 

16 8 0 0 o + 1= u OI./O 


Right hand Pf-ETH 
Left hand kUljj 




16 0 0 ll + f = RIO. \7 

q g 4 000+ 1== IJP*Z0 -L--10 

























THE HENRY SYSTEM 


215 


The index finger of each halnd is known as the 
fulcrum, for it supports the primary classification by 
sub-dividing it so that an orderly arrangement in 
the files permits the location of a print in the quickest 
possible time. 


Whorls are indicated in the sub-classification by 
the symbols “ I ” for inner, “M” for Meet, and “O” 
for Outer. These symbols are found by tracing the 
left delta line across the bottom of the pattern to the 
right delta, where its position as an Inner, Meet, or 
Outer is determined by counting the ridges that inter¬ 
vene between the left delta line and the right delta. 


If the left delta line is more than three ridges in¬ 
side the right delta, it is an Inner and is represented 
by the symbol “ I ”. 

If the left delta line is three or less ridges on 
either side the right delta, it is a Meet and is repre¬ 
sented by the symbol “M”. 

If the left delta line is more than three ridges on 
the outside of the right delta, it is an Outer and is 
represented by the symbol “0”. 



216 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Sb 

RIGHT HAND 



RIGKr HAND 

1.—Right Thumb 

£.—R. For* Anger 

*.—R Middle Finger 

4.—R. Ring Finger 

6.—R. Little Finger 

M 

X 

,r 


P 





a 

?P!lf 

ilf i 

|p. * 


''‘5 

w ' .. . • 

W 

LEF^ &AND 

\ 

VV^ LEFT HAND W' 

6.—L. Thumb 

7.-—L. Forefinger 

8.—L. Middle Finger 

9.-L R*ng Finger 

10.—L. Little Finger 

JZ 

0 

M 

I 

V' 1 

_ 

■ 



r-f 

k 



4 

J* * 

•S s s 
** * 

= s i 


1! 


p i 
if if 


s 5 if 

fl ii 

ii 

P U 

If sr 

it ii 

l| ii 

It at 
!• 
ll.H 
! ,i ! i 


I SIMULTANEOUSLY. 



- lii. % 4 

" w“ • '©» ■fj 1 
• \0L- * 

mmmrnSk-'' 


M M. 


« 


Plate 29 


























THE HENRY SYSTEM 


217 


Sub-classification is carried into the second div¬ 
ision by representing- the Whorls that are upon the 
middle lingers by the symbol letters “I”, “M”, and“0”, 
so as to extend the possible variations of combinations 
for filing- purposes. 


If a Whorl is on an index finger and ic is followed 
by a Loop on the middle finger; only the symbol—(I, 
M, or O ) for the Whorl is represented in the class¬ 
ification. 


If a Whorl is upon both the index and middle fin¬ 
gers, both symbols are placed in the sub-classification. 


Some files are so large that it has been found 
necessary to still further divide the classification. A 
third division is made by using the same symbols of 
‘T\ “M" and “0” when Whorls are upon all three fin¬ 
gers—or the counts when Loops are upon the index, 
middle and ring fingers. 


Final classification is made by counting the ridges 
of the little fingers when they are loops. Some oper¬ 
ators use the symbols “I”, “M" and “0”, when a 
Whorl is upon the little fingers. This is a detail any¬ 
one can work out according to the size of their file, 
for individual experience will decide which method 
answers the need best. 


Plate No. 29. is a finger print record with Whdrls. 
Composites, and ( Loops upon it. After the symbol 
of the patterns have been placed under each impress¬ 
ion, and the deltas traced to see whether they are 


218 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Inners , (I), Meets, (M), or Outers, (0); and with 
the counts of the Loops written above the imprint, 
the record is prepared for the classification to be 
written in. 


With pencil ready to \ rite i pon the scratch-pad 
the pattern symbol of the right thumb is looked at. 
It show r s a “W”, so 16 is written on the top of the 
line near the starting point. The right fore inger 
is next in order, being also a “W” the number 16 is 

16 

placed under the line~a:id under the first 16 ’ — 

16 


The right middle finger is a Loop, so a cipher is 
placed above the line, and next to the first “16”. The 
ring finger is a “W”, so the number “8” is placed 


underneath the cipher: 


16 0 
16 8 


The “W” on the right little finger, and the “W” 
on the left thumb get the next number; 4 each 
16 0 4 

16 8 4 


The left fore and middle fingers get the next 
number of 2 : 

16 0 4 2 

16 8 4 2 

The “W” on the left ring finger has a value of 
one (1), so the one is written above the line. The 





THE HENRY SYSTEM 


219 


left little finger is a Loop, having no value, a cipher 


is placed under the one: 


16 0 4 2 1 
16 8 4 2 0 


A value of one (1) for each hand is then placed 
above and below the line and the total is added and 
inverted ready to receive the sub-classification: 

16 0 4 2 1 + 1 = 24 81 

16 8 4 2 0 4- 1 — 31 24 

As both forefingers are Whorls, the sub-class¬ 
ification is indicated by the tracings of the left delta. 
The right forefinger is an Inner Whorl, so an “ I ” is 
placed next to the primary classification. The right 
middle finger being a Loop is not represented in the 
classification. 


The left fore and middle fingers being Whorls, 
their tracing letter is placed under the line and with 
the 21 count of the left little finger, the classification 


reads: 


31 I 

24 0 M 21 


An Arch is found on Plate No. 30 that places 
the record into the lettered section in the front paid: 

27 


of the primary division of 


24 













SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 






6.—L. Thumb 


7. -L. Forefinger 


8 L MuJ«lle Finger 


LEFT HAND 

Plain inproMon of the four finger* TAKEN SIMULTANEOUSLY 




RIGHT HAND 

Pfein impression of the four finger* TAKEN SIMULTANEOUSLY 




Plate 30 





















THE HENRY SYSTEM 


221 


The primary classification is made in the same 
manner as the preceeding finger print record. Then 
the Arch on the left thumb is placed before the two 
‘TV’ of the index fingers, thus giving a classification 


that reads: 


24 a I I 22 . 

27 I 


The Ulnar Loops on the right fore and middle 
fingers of Plate No. 30. places this record within the 
lettered combinations. After placing the pattern 

symbols underneath the impressions, and the counts 
and tracings in their proper places, the primary class¬ 
ification is made: 

0 8 4 2 0 + 1 = 15 3 

’ 0 0 0 2 0 -|- 1 — 3 15 


An Ulnar Loop being on the index and middle 
fingers of the right hand a U is placed next to the “15” 
and with a (—) dash underneath it, it forms the sub¬ 
classification. 

The secondary sub-classification is started with 
the index finger again. There is a count of 12, so 
an “O” is placed next to the “U”; followed by an “1” 
for the middle finger, and the count of 9 for the little 


finger. 


15 U 0 I 9 . 


The tracings of the two Accidentals are next 
placed below the line, and with the little finger count 
of 12 , a classification is had that reads: 

15 U 0 I 9 


0 0 12 









222 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


If a Whorl had been upon the right middle finger 
it would not have shown in the secondary sub-classifica¬ 
tion. Just the same with the left hand; had a Loop 
followed the x4c., it would not be indicated in the class¬ 
ification. Only when a Loop follows a Loop, or a 
Whorl follows a Whorl—or Composites, is the second 
part of the sub-classification comprised of tw’o letters. 


Plate No. 30. also falls into the lettered section. 


The reading of the classification bein 



A 

A 


17. 

a 15 


THE HENRY SYSTEM 


223 



ft. - f.. TVaatO 


h 



7. - L. F»»rrflnjror 



K-L. MhUIIo Finjfor 



i* f.. ftrntr Kinircr J l<» —I. little Kincir 





LEFT HAND 

1*Ui*«s of Mi fuuf hn^rt TAKKN SlMl'I.I .\NM»l SI N 


HIGH! HAND 

: If: , T SIMt'I.J «M'»l -I l 






Plate 31 























TWINNED LOOPS 



Figure No. 167. 


The name of Twinned Loop has been given to one 
of the Composites because the formation of the ridges 
make two separate and distinct Loops within the one 
pattern. Figures No. 167 to 170. 


Many Twinned Loops appear to be identical in 
ridge formation with the type known as the Lateral 
Pocket Loop. By tracing the ridge containing the 
points of the cores, the distinction is easy to find. 


In Twinned Loops ihe ridges containing the 
points of the core have their exits on the opposite 
sides of the pattern. The Twinned Loop is given the 


THE HENRY SYSTEM 


225 


same numeric value as the Whorl. It is also used 
for sub-classification purposes similar to the Whorl, 
with the letters “I”, “M” and “0” indicating the posi¬ 
tion of the left side delta line with the right delta. 
T. L. is the symbol used for a Tvinned Loop, and it 
functions in making up a classification just the same 
as a Whorl. 



Figure No. 168. 


Figure No. 169. 


Figure No. 170. 




LATERAL POCKET LOOPS 



Figure No. 171. 


Lateral Pocket Loops can, at first sight, be easily 
mistaken for Twinned Loops, for it also has two sep¬ 
arate and distinct Loops within the same pattern. 
When the formation of the ridges bend sharply down 
on one side of another Loop, to recurve with a natural 
sweep and make an exit on the same side as the other 
Loop, it is named a lateral Pocket Loop. Figure 
No. 171. 


The ridges that recurve must be rounded, for if 
they meet at an angle, the pattern is an Ulnar, or 
Radial Loop and not a Lateral Pocket Loop. 


THE HENRY SYSTEM 


227 


By tracing the ridges that contain the points of 
the cores to their exits, the Lateral Pocket Loop and 
the Twinned Loops are easily differentiated. 


The ridges surrounding the points of the cores 
of a Lateral Pocket Loop, make an exit on the same 
side of the pattern. 


The same numerical value is attached to the ;L. P. 
to make up the classification, as is given to the Whorl; 
and the left delta line position is shown by “I“, “M” or 
*‘0” to help complete the classification. 





CENTRAL POCKET LOOPS 



Figure No. 174. 


Central Pocket Loops derive their name from 
being the antonym of a Loop. Very often in the 
Loop type of pattern, the formation of the ridges 
around the core deviate from the general course of 
the ridges. The ridges nearest the core, after re¬ 
curving, make another recurve which gives the plastic 
indication of the pocket— an approbative, convert¬ 
ible term adopted in mining. Figure No. 174 and 177. 


There is only one rule to observe in determining 
a Central Pocket Loop. The second recurving ridge, 
or ridges, must recurve in a natural manner. If the 
angle Of the lower curve is an acute angle, the pattern 
will not be a Central Pocket, but will be Loops Ulnar, 
or Radial. Figures No. 178--9—80, are not Central 
Pockets, but are Loops. 


THE HENRY SYSTEM 


229 


€. P. is the symbol used to indicate a Central 
Pocket Loop. For classification purposes the Cen¬ 
tral Pocket is given the same value as the Whorls, 
and other Composites. The left delta line is the guide 
for finding whether the pattern is an Inner, Meet or an 
Outer, exactly as with other Composites. Left slo¬ 
ping CP’s are “I”, right slooping are u O”. 




Figure No. 178. Figure No. 179. 


Figure No. 180. 









1 


ACCIDENTALS 



Figure No. 181. 

The formation of the ridges in some patterns are 
indicative of two general patterns on the bulb of one 
finger. This type is termed Accidental. Denoted 
by the symbol Ac. 

It is rare they are found-less than one per cent 
of a file. So to avoid confusion the Accidental is 
classed as a Composite, and used for classification 
purposes just the same as the Whorls and other Com¬ 
posites. Figures No. 181-2 & 129 to 134 show a few 
different varieties of three cncentric patterns that the 
author has met with. 



t 


Figure No. 182. 


ORDER OF THE FILE 


The file has four divisions. 


1. Primary Division. 

2. Sub-Division. 

3. Second Sub-Division. 

4. Little Finger Division. 

The first division is arranged by the allocation 
of the numbers 1 to 32 in numerical order. 


The second division is arranged by the letters 
A, T, R. U. and the symbol — (for Whorl) 
being filled in the order given. 


The third division is arranged by the letters 
I, M, and 0, being filed in the order given. 


The fourth division is arranged by the count 
found upon the little fingers being filed in numerical 
order. 


232 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The following' is the first division arrangement: 


1 

2 

3 


5 

6 

7 

9 

10 

11 

1 

1 

1 


1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

13 

14 


15 


17 

18 

19 

21 

25 

1 

1 


1 


1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

26 

27 


29 







1 

1 


1 







2 

o 

O 

4 


5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

2 

2 

2 


2 

2 

9 

La 

2 

2 

2 

11 

12 


13 


14 

15 

17 

18 

19 

2 

2 


2 


2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

20 

21 


22 


23 . 

25 

26 

27 

28 

2 

2 


2 


2 

2 

2 

2 

9 

29 

30 


31 


32 





2 

2 


2 


2 





1 

2 

3 


5 

' 7 

9 

10 

11 

12 

3 

3 

3 


3 

o 

o 

o 

O 

3 

3 

3 

13 

14 


15 


17 

18 

19 

21 

22 

Q 

O 

o 

9 


3 


9 

O 

o 

o 

3 

3 

3 

23 

25 


26 


27 

28 

29 

32 


o 

O 

3 


o 

6 


9 

o 

o 

o 

3 

3 


1 

2 

3 


5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

4 

4 

4 


4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 























































THE HENRY SYSTEM 


233 


11 

12 


13 


17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

4 

4 


4 


4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

23 

24 


25 


26 

27 

28 

29 

31 

4 

4 


4 


4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

32 










4 










1 

2 

5 


9 

10 

11 

13 

14 


5 

o 

5 


5 

5 

5 

** 

o 

5 


17 

18 


19 


20 

21 

25 

26 

29 

5 

5 


5 


5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

30 










5 










1 

2 

3 


5 

6 

9 

10 

11 

12 

6 

6 

6 


6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

13 

14 


16 


17 

21 

25 

26 

27 

6 

6 


6 


6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

28 

29 


30 


32 





6 

6 


6 


6 





1 

2 

5 


6 

9 

10 

11 

13 

14 

7 

7 

7 


7 

7 

7 

7 . 

7 

7 

17 

18 


21 


25 

29 




7 

7 


7 


7 

7 




1 

3 

5 


9 

10 

11 

12 

13 


8 

8 

8 


8 

8 

8 

8 

8 


14 

16 


17 


18 

19 

21 ' 

25 

26 

8 

8 


8 


8 

8 

8 

8 

8 





























































234 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 



8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 



1 

2 

3 4 

5 

11 

13 

17 


9 

9 

9 9 

9 

9 

9 

9 


21 

24 

25 

27 

29 




9 

9 

9 

9 

9 




1 

3 

5 

9 

11 

12 

13 

15 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

25 

27 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

29 

31 







10 

10 







1 

3 

5 

9 

11 

13 

17 

19 

11 

11 

11 

11 

11 

11 

11 

11 

21 

25 

26 

27 

29 

31 



11 

11 

11 

11 

11 

11 



1 

5 

6 

9 

11 

13 

15 

17 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

19 

21 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

31 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

32 








12 








1 

o 

6 

5 

9 

13 

17 

21 

25 

13 

13 

13 

13 

13 

13 

13 

13 























































THE HENRY SYSTEM 


235 


27 

28 

29 

13 

13 

13 


1 

5 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

16 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

17 

18 

21 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

30 

31 

32 






14 

1 A 

x ~x 

14 






1 

2 

5 

9 

11 

13 

17 

21 

15 

15 

15 . 

15 

15 

15 

15 

15 

25 

26 

28 

29 





15 

15 

15 

15 





1 

5 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

17 

21 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

31 

32 







16 

16 







1 

2 

3 

5 

6 

7 

9 

10 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 

11 

13 

14 

15 

17 

18 

19 

21 

.17 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 

22 

23 

25 

26 

27 

29 

30 

31 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 

17 















































236 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


1 

2 

3 

5 

6 

7 

9 

10 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

19 

21 

22 

23 

25 

26 

27 

28 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

29 

30 

31 

32 





18 

18 

18 

18 





1 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

11 

13 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

14 

15 

18 

19 

21 

22 

23 

24 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

25 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 


19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 

19 


1 

3 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 




20 

20 

20 

20 

20 




1 

5 

9 

10 

11 

13 

14 

15 

21 

21 

21 

21 

21 

21 

21 

21 
































THE HENRY SYSTEM 


237 


16 

17 

18 

21 

22 

25 

29 

30 

21 

21 

21 

21 

21 

21 

21 

21 

31 








21 








1 

2 

5 

6 

9 

10 

11 

12 

22 

22 

22 

22 

22 

22 

22 

22 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

20 

21 

22 

22 

22 

22 

22 

22 

22 

22 

22 

23 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

22 

22 

22 . 

22 

22 

22 

22 

22 

32 

22 








1 

5 

6 

9 

10 

11 

13 

14 

23 

23 

23 

23 

23 

23 

23 

23 

15 

17 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

23 

23 

23 

23 

23 

23 

23 

23 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 




23 

23 

23 

23 

23 




i 

5 

9 

10 

11 

13 

14 

15 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

1G 

17 

18 

21 

22 

23 

25 

26 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 



24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 




































































238 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


1 

o 

O 

5 

7 • 

9 

10 

11 

13 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

. 14 

15 

17 

19 

21 

22 

23 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

27 

29 

31 

32 





25 

25 

25 

25 





1 

2 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

19 

21 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

26 

29 

31 

32 



* 



26 

26 

26 






1 

3 

5 

7 

8 

9 

11 

13 

27 

27 

27 

27 

27 

27 

27 

27 

14 

15 

17 

18 

19 

21 

23 

25 

27 

27 

27 

27 

27 

27 

27 

27 

27 

29 

30 

31 





27 

27 

27 

27 





1 

3 

5 

7 

9 

11 

13 

14 

28 

28 

28 

28 

28 

28 

28 

28 

15 

16 

17 

19 

21 

23 

25 

26 

28 

28 

28 

28 

28 

28 

28 

28 



























































THE HENRY SYSTEM 


239 


27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

28 

28 

28 

28 

28 

28 


1 

2 

5 

9 

11 

13 

17 

19 

29 

29 

29 

29 

29 

29 

29 

29 

21 

25 

29 

31 

32 




29 

29 

29 

29 

29 




1 

5 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

15 

16 

17 

21 

22 

25 

26 

27 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 




30 

30 

30 

30 

30 




1 

5 

9 

11 

13 

15 

17 

19 

31 

31 

31 

31 

31 

31 

31 

31 

21 

22 

25 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

31 

Q 1 

oi 

31 

31 

31 

31 

31 

31 

32 








31 








1 

5 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

15 

16 

17 

21 

25 

26 

27 

28 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 


25 

30 

31 

32 

or> 

f 

32 

32 

32 





































240 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The second division is arranged by letters, in the 


1 

1 


division of 


-— the filing is as follows; 


A 

aA 

Aa 

aAa 

A2a 

aA2a 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A 

A3a 

aA3a 

A 

aA 

Aa 

aAa 

A 

A 

a A 

a A 

aA 

aA 

A2a 

aA2a 

A3a 

a A3a 

A 

aA 

aA 

aA 

aA 

aA 

Aa 

Aa 

Aa 

aAa 

A2a 

aA2a 

A3a 

aA3a 

Aa 

Aa 

Aa 

Aa 

Aa 

A a 

A 

aA 

Aa 

aAa 

A2a 

aA2a 

aAa 

aAa aAa 

aAa aAa 

aAa 

A3a 

aA3a 

A 

aA 

Aa 

aAa 

aAa 

aAa 

A2a 

A2a 

A2a 

A 2a 

A2a 

aA2a 

A3a 

a A3a A 

aA 


A2a A2a A2a A2a aA2a aA2a 


Aa 

aAa 

A2a 

aA2a 

A3a 

a A3a 

a A 2a 

aA2a 

aA2a 

aA2a 

aA2a 

aA2a 

A 

aA 

Aa 

aAa 

A2a aA2a 

A 3a 

A 8a 

A3a 

A3a 

A3a 

A3a 

A3a 

aA3a 

A 

aA 

Aa 

aAa 

A3a 

A 3a 

aA3a 

aA3a 

aA3a 

aA3a 


A 2a 
\ A 8a 


aA2a 


A3a 


a A3a 


aA3a 


aA3a 


aA3a 















































THE HENRY SYSTEM 


241 


A 


and all the combinations that include the small 


letters, “a” “t” and “r”, in their order to, and includ¬ 


ing: 


A 


with small letters “a”, “t” and “r”. 


A 


with the small letter combinations of “a”, “t” 


Atr 


and “r” in order; as: — aRr for example, to and 


A 

including - and its following combinations of “a” 
K 

“t” and “r”. 


with small lettered combinations of “a”, “t” 


T 

and “r”. 


R T R 

—— and - and —^— same as above. 

T K R 


A and 'Tj'with small letters “a”, “t” and “r” to -g 


T U R U 
U T U R 

1 

concludes the — 1 - 
nations. 1 


with small lettered combinations 
sub-divisions, of lettered combi- 







242 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


1 R U 

In the-— divisions of —— and —^ ur “ 

1 K u 

ther sub-divisions are made by using 64 combinations 


of “I” and “0”. Starting with 


in no ioo 

III III III 


on oio ooi ooo n , ooo 

in —in — m —in " they continue t0 oDD 


the next in order being 


111 . 


Reversing the “I” 


110 


and “O” until 64 combinations are made. If it is a 
small file only two letters or divisions need to be made. 


Having the first part of the file arranged, the 
rest is easily placed, for with the two over one section 
the whorls commence. 


In the numbers that permit Arches, Tented Arch¬ 
es, or Loops upon the index fingers. The Arches are 
filed first, Tented Arches second. Radial Loops third, 
and Ulnar Loops fourth, with the Whorls following 
in their sequence, Inners, Meets and Outers last. 
With each sectional sub-division the count upon the 
little finger is utilized, so by arranging the prints in 
numerical sequence, any record is readily found. 


The following is the order for Inner, Meet and 
Outer Whorls. 








HISTORY 


243 


11 

IM 

10 

MI 

MM 

MO 

01 

OM 

00 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

11 

IM 

10 

MI 

MM 

MO 

01 

OM 

00 

M 

M 

M 

M 

M 

M 

M 

M 

M 

II 

IM 

10 

MI 

MM 

MO 

01 

OM 

00 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 


If the ring finger is wanted to enlarge the num¬ 
ber of variations that these letters, or symbols will 
give, it can be added so that seven hundred and twenty 

III 

nine different sub-divisions are had between the— jjj 

and -~qqq — thus making possible the filing of any 

number of finger print records without any confusion 
whatsoever. 























THE KNOWN HISTORY OF FINGER PRINTS 


The utilization of the ridge formation of the 
fingers is far from being a recent discovery. Archae¬ 
ologists are constantly finding traces of the markings 
of the fingers having been used in ancient times. 
Kai Kung-yen, an author of the Tang dynasby, about 
650 A. D. makes a distinct reference of finger prints 
being employed for the purpose of identification dur¬ 
ing that period. 


So the earliest known record of finger printing is 
in the posession of the Chinese. When the Eastern 
hemisphere was at the height of its former prominence 
the Emperors of the Chinese used to sign each royal 
proclamation and decree by an imprint of the royal 
thumb. 


This is not to imply that we are indebted to the 
Chinese for the present system of identification by 
finger prints. 


The present system now universally used, was 
built upon the foundation originally laid down by 
Sir William J. Herschel and Sir Francis Galton, and 
brought into practice in 1901. by Sir E. R. Henry, 
then Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, London, 
England. 


HISTORY 


215 


Finger Printing as a system for scientific iden- 
tiiication is based upon two pi*incipals; 1st. The wide¬ 
ly varying individual characteristics on the finger tips, 
a^d 2nd., the pe -sistency of the attributes of the 

patterns in the same individual from birth to death. 
Sir Francis Galton comments upon these two princi¬ 
ples as follows: 


“It is probable that no two finger prints in the 
whole world are so alike that an expert would fail to 
distinguish be-ween them. As there is no sign, ex¬ 
cept in one case, of a change during any of these four 
intervals which together must wholly cover the 
ordinary life of man (boyhood, early manhood, middle 
age, extreme old age), we are justified in in'erring 
that between birth and death there is absolutely no 
change in, say, 699 out of 700 of the numerous char¬ 
acteristics of the markings of the fingers of the same 
person as can be impressed by him whenever it is 
desirable to do so. Neither can there be any change 
after death up to the time when the skin perishes 
through decomposition; for example: the marks on 
the fingers of many Egyptian mummies and on the 
paws of stuffed monkeys still remain legible. Very 
good evidence and careful inquiry is thus seen to 
justify the popular idea of the presistence of finger 
markings. There appear to be bodily characteristics 
other than deep scars and tattoo marks comparable 
in their presistance to these markings; at the same 
time they are out of all proportion more numerous 


246 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


than any other measurable features. The dimensions 
of the limbs and body alter in the course of growth 
and decay, the color, quanity, and quality of the hair, 
the tint and quality of the skin, the number and set 
of the teeth, the expression of the features, the ges¬ 
tures, the handwriting, even the eye color, change 
after many years. There seems to be no presistence 
in the visible parts of the body except in these min¬ 
ute and hitherto disregarded ridges”. * 

In 1823, a Prof. Purkenje read a Latin Thesis 
on finger impressions before the University of 
Breslau, in which he gave nine standard patterns and 
suggested a system of classification; but his work 
failed to attract the attention it merited. 

It was not until 1858 that anvthing more was 
heard about finger prints. Sir William J. Herschel 
chief administrator of the Hooghly District of 
Bengal, India; found a difficulty in identifying the 
natives to have government contracts satisfactorily 
concluded, so he instructed that each document 
should bear, the sigmers finger prints. After pur¬ 
suing this practice for a number of years, the fam¬ 
iliarity of the patterns gradually gave him the idea of 
their individuality and he worked out a system on a 
small scale. Herschel also caused several other depart¬ 
ment^ t 0 adopt finger prints, notable, Registration 
of Deeds, Pension Office and jails in his district, and 
his system met with a marked success on small be¬ 
ginnings. 

In 1877 Sir William J. Herschel submitted a 
report to the Inspector General of Jails, requesting 
permission to extend the system for criminal identifi¬ 
cation in India, but no action was taken. 


* Classification and Uses of Finger Prints by Sir E. R. Henry. 



HISTORY 


247 


In 1880 an English scientific journal published 
two papers upon dactyloscopy. Tne first by Dr. 
Henry Faulds, of Tsukiji Hospital, Tokio; wherein was 
first published a method lor the taking of finger im¬ 
pressions by the aid of printers ink. Dr. Faulds 
made some remarkable suggestions of the various 
uses that the “nature prints” could be put to. As 
we compare modern uses of finger prints with his 
suggestions, we know how well iounded was his fore¬ 
sight; Faulds even went so far as to affirm a corres¬ 
pondence ox finger prints through heredity. Sub¬ 
stantiation of this will be a phase of the author’s next 
work, as undoubtly there is evidence enough of indi¬ 
vidual similarity through parentage to establish re¬ 
lationship. Also the patterns, and their formation 
are indicative of the personal character of the indi¬ 
vidual These facts will be given in a later work. 


Faulds was under the impression that his inves¬ 
tigation into the “nature prints”, as he termed them, 
was original. He considered himself to be the dis¬ 
coverer of dactyloscopy. Herschel immediately re¬ 
plied. Stating as an interesting fact that he had 
used finger prints as a means of identification for 
more than twenty years, and that he had worked out 
a system that rendered their utility practical. 


As Faulds admitted that he had only devoted 
three years to his “nature prints” and whereas 
Herschel had worked out a system and employed it 
offically for many years; we must agree with Galton 
“That Sir William J. Herschel must be regarded as 
the first man who devised a feasible method for reg¬ 
ular use, and afterwards offically adopted it. * 

* “Finger Prints” by Sir F. Galton, 1892. 


248 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


HerscheFs system was not considered comprehen¬ 
sive enough to embrace a large collection of prints 
such as are found in the crowded centers of populat¬ 
ion. So he turned his collection of prints over to Sir 
Francis Galton w T ho worked over the collection and 
decided to segregate the impressiolis into four ty,>es 
of finger print patterns with symbols to express the n: 


An 

Arch 



A 

Loop 

that opens on the left 

/ 

A 

Loop 

that opens on the right 

X 

A 

Whorl 

of any kind 

0 


After proving the permanance of finger prints, 
Galton devised a method of describing and classifying 
any number of finger print records and in 1893, per¬ 
suaded the British Government to appoint a committee 
to investigate its feasibility in actual practice. The 
committee recommended that Galton’s system be 
adopted and used in conjunction with the Bertillion 
Anthropometric System. 


In the meantime Sir E. R. Henry, who had been 
Assistant Collector under Herschel in Bengal and 
therefore familiar with the first finger print system; 
was appointed as successor to Sir William J. Herschel. 
Sir Henry made a thorough study of HerscheFs sys¬ 
tem and succeeded in making it more consistent and 
complete. In 1899 he presented a simplified system 
for finger print records before the British Associa¬ 
tion for the Advancement of Science, and in 1900 he 
published “Classification and Uses of Finger Prints” 
which has run through many editions and become a 
recognized standard work. 


HISTORY 


249 


In 1901, Henry was appointed as Assistant Com¬ 
missioner of Police at New Scotland Yard, and is the 
present acknowledged head of the system as is used 
today in English speaking countries. 


As a means of identification, finger prints have 
received wider adoption m Argentina. The system 
used is mainly the w r ork of Juan Vucetich and is nam¬ 
ed after him. It is based upon the bifurcations 
within the patterns. The chief uses of the system 
are tor civil identification. Every able-bodied man 
is finger printed, and a side and front photograph 
taken when he reaches his majority. The finger 
prints and photograph are pasted into a small book, 
which he is required to produce at all important trans¬ 
actions. When a man is convicted for a crime, his 
book is taken from him. A law has recently been 
passed requiring everyone going ashore in that coun¬ 
try to have their finger prints upon their person so 
they can be shown v 7 hen asked for them. 


France has recently passed a decree that every¬ 
one in France is to be registered by the imprint of 
the left thumb. It will be but a short time before all 
English speaking countries will require its citizens to 
be registered in a similar manner, for established iden¬ 
tification in a social necessity. 


In 1912, the United Stales Government, through 
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, instructed all its 
officials that every Indian who could not write his name 
was to sign all checks, official papers and endorsements 
by making an impression of his right thumb in ink 
upon the document in lieu of his signature. 


250 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


The United States Army and Navy, finger print 
all men accepted for service. When an enlisted man 
requests a discharge from the Army or Navy by cor¬ 
respondence, a document is sent to him that has to be 
personally filled out and his index finger imprint 
placed under the signature. This imprint is compared 
with the original finger print record and it is definit¬ 
ely known that the discharge is being given to the 
right man. 


Paymasters of the Navy are personally respon¬ 
sible for the sums of money they disburse, some up-to- 
date Paymasters insist, when cashing Departmental 
checks for enlisted men, that the indorser place his 
finger prints upon the check at the time of signing. 


In the United States, the use of finger prints as 
evidence of valid proof of guilt in murder trials, was 
first upheld in the case of a colored man who was exe¬ 
cuted on February 16th, 1912, in, Cook County 

Illinois. 


This mans finger prints had been taken before 
he was discharged from the Joliet Penitentiary a 
short time before the murder was committed. The 
evidence showed that the impression of a bloody fin¬ 
ger upon some woodwork in the house where the crime 
was committed, was an imprint of a. digit belonging 
to the Negro. Although the defense made a hard 
and bitter fight against the admissibility of the fingei 
print evidence, the Court held that such evidence was 
sound and a thoroughlv scientific witness that con¬ 
clusively proved the guilt of the accused. 


HISTORY 


251 


In 1921 an Old Chinaman was murdered in South¬ 
ern California. The only clue that could be found 
was an imprint of four fingers upon the casing of a 
door. The police rounded up a number of Chinamen 
and took their finger prints in a house near the scene 
of the crime. Two other Chinamen happened to come 
along and seeing the other Chinamen crowding into the 
house, thought they would go and see what it was 
about. 


They saw the funny marks made by the other 
Chinamen and one of them wanted to see how his fin¬ 
gers look upon paper, and readily stepped forward to 
be finger printed. Directly the expert looked at the 
impressions, he arrested the curious Chinamen—be¬ 
cause he had found his man ! A plea of “Guilty” 
was entered by the Chinaman’s lawyer in order to save 
his client from the extreme penalty. 


There have been so many confessions by men and 
women convicted through finger print evidence, that 
the title of “the only scientific means of identification” 
has been firmly established in the Courts of the 
United States and no Judge or Jury can be found today 
who are not willing to accept finger prints as reliable, 
authentic witnesses. 


The advantages of a professional organization 
are too well known to need description here. Bat the 
author feels that the attention of future Finger Print 
Experts should be drawn to a machine that is ahead\ 
functioning upon up-to-date, progressive lines l'or 
when Mr. Harry H. Caldwell and his associates sent 
out the call that resulted in the formation of the 


252 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


International Association for Identification (usually 
referred to as the “I. A. I.”) the most formidable 
instrument that could be forged for the protection of 
Society was welded together. 


For six years Mr. Caldwell occupied the position 
of President. His loyal and enthusiastic activity 
materially aided in placing the I. A. I. upon a firm 
foundation that commands the respect and confidence 
of all National and State Officials. “In recognition of 
the great value of Mr. Caldwell’s services, and as a 
mark of our appreciation of his faithful and unfailing 
zeal in the cause of personal identification, the Sev¬ 
enth Annual Convention of the International Asso- 
ciation for Identification, assembled in Washington, 
D. C. on the 21th day of September, 1921. hereby 
confer upon him an Active Life Membership in out 
Association, as a signal mark of our grateful recog¬ 
nition of his long term of useful labors in out 
behalf.” ( * ) 


As the adoption of the Single Finger Print Iden¬ 
tification System for Commercial purposes will Create 
a new position in the business world, i, e., Offical 
Identification Officer for the establishment, it is well 
to inform the large number of ambitious young men 
and women who will give this new office their attem 
tion, of the activity of the I. A. I. so that they may 
become acquainted with the latest developments in 
tin science of Dactylography. It would be a waste 
of time and labor to create an organization duplicating 


* Extract from minutes of the 7th Annual Convention of 
the l. A. I. page 21. 


HISTORY 


253 


the L A. 1. so it was decided to request its president 
Mr. A. J. Renoe for a message to the profession in 
general that would outline the aims and purposes of 
the I. A. I. so that they could be fully understood by 
people who contemplated entering the field of personal 
identification. 


As long as the principles of the I. A. I. are con¬ 
formed with by its representatives and officials, the 
organization is worthy of our honest support. But 
if, at any time, the organization is made subservient 
to personal or private business interests, a referen¬ 
dum should be quickly used. 


The International Association for Identification 


by A. J. Renoe 


Chief of Bureau of Criminal Identification, 
Department of Justice, and President of Internat¬ 
ional Association ror Identification. 


Organization is the prevailing tendency, the law, 
1 might say of human society. As man advanced 
through social evolution from the individualism of sav¬ 
agery and barbarism, the adjustment of man s relat¬ 
ions with his fellows required that common under¬ 
standing which is the organized state of modern times. 
But this is for the general welfare of all under the 
same general condition. There remains the organiz¬ 
ation of those elements within the general body which 
have particular interests among themselves. This 
fundamental reason existed as the reason for the 
organization some years ago, of the International 
Association for Identification. 


Previously, a need had arisen among the peace 
officers especially, for some medium whereby the 
chaotic methods prevailing could be done away with 
in the common interest of criminal detection. The 
condition of one city of one State using either no, 
method of identification of the criminal element, or 
using a different method than all others made for un- 
believeable confusion. It made for inefficiency and 


HISTORY 


255 


for corresponding low estimation of the identification 
man as a servant and benefit to society. 


Perhaps it was the gradual but increasing spread 
of the finger print as a means for personal identifi¬ 
cation which afforded the method around which iden¬ 
tification men could rally, that has aided very >. ..ateri- 
ally the formation of the International Association 
for Identification, briefly called the “I. A. I.”. The 
need having arisen in the existence c/f a large group of 
men and women engaged in identification as a pro¬ 
fession, the organization only awaited the initiation 
by those who had foresight to send out the call to 
organize. 


So, only a few years ago, a mere handfull of men, 
though they were of high standing in the profession, 
met to form the I. A. I. Today it has a large and 
ever growing membership, embracing the foremost 
experts of the profession and, as associate members 
a number of the leading anthropologists, chemists and 
other scientists whose fields of investigation are in 
contact with identification men. 


The I. A. I., while largely organized among peace 
officers of the country, does not confine its member¬ 
ship and activities to the criminal field alone. The 
rapid spread of identification by finger prints among 
large industrial interests, insurance companies, banks, 
the Postal Department, the Army and Navy Depart¬ 
ments, civil establishments both public and private, 
all have given impetus to create, not only a large body 
of identification men and wopien, but an organization 
which will voice their interests and give that contact 


256 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


between one another which is necessary to those who 
aim to keep up with the work.. The science itself 
in finger prints and in other phases is continually im¬ 
proving. And no man who today completes a course 
in any phase of identification work, should think that 
he can maintain himself without constant touch with 
his fellows and the new methods always evolving. 
So the I. A. I. has grown as identification experts in 
commercial, industrial, military and criminal fields 
have sensed the need of organization. It has grown 
steadily and rapidly and is still growing. 


Each year its conventions, to which any member 
may come, sets the mark of attainment for the pro¬ 
fession; gives the world the new methods or improve¬ 
ments on old methods, for the benefit of all the pro¬ 
fession; puts the new identification men and women, 
in touch with those who are at the head of identifi¬ 
cation work in all lines; harmonizes and standardizes 
identification work and devices; tests everything with 
its collective mind; organizes campaigns for the proper 
legal measures to the interest of the profession; and 
plans for constant publicity in impressing the public 
with the vital necessity of personal identification and, 
in making the identification man w'orth much to soci¬ 
ety, it also asks society to recognize the unquestion¬ 
able right of the identification expert to the social and 
economic standing of other professions. And its pro¬ 
gress has met with a great measure of success. It 
has changed the public’s view' of finger prints from 
ridicule to awesome reverence at the miraculous cer- 
tainity with which the finger print expert identifies 
one man out of a thousand, or out of a million, swiftly, 
surely. 


HISTORY 


257 


Such is the past of the I. A. I. and its program for 
tiie future will be extended as new needs arise in the 
v. ork, among those whose business has to do with per¬ 
sonal identification in some of its various fields and 
who alone are entitled to mil membership. To the 
peace offical of whatever position, to the detective of 
standing and merit, to those who- deal with identifi¬ 
cation in banking, insurance or industry, the Internat¬ 
iona! Association for Identification extends an invi- 
ta ion for mutual aid by contact with the large mem¬ 
bership of the organization. Only by organization 
can we voice the special viewpoint and interests of 
identification men and women—and the organization 
is the International Association for Identification. 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


2 " 


N 


INDEX 


Ability of expert . 13-4. 30. 56. 63. 156 

Aorupt endings ....... 69. 70 

Acceptance oi linger prints. 13, 161, 248-49-50 

Accidental impressions ..... 117, 156, 229 

Acknowledgment of assistance ....... 18, 19, z0 

Adaptability oi linger prints . i5, 17, 23-4-5 

Additional detans .... 96-7-8-9, 100 

Additional safeguards ... 107-6-9-10 

Analysis, condenced . 66-78, 83, 86, 79 

of Loops ... 50 to 60 

Analysis, condenced . 66, 78, 83, 86, 79 

of Loops . 50 to 60 

of Latents...,. 163 to 167 

Anthropometric system and finger prints . l7, 18 

Arches, .... 103-116, 200-209 

, counting position of 104-5-6-9-10, 114-5 

” , Tented ._. 114-5-6, 208-9 

Area of search on charts .. 148-153 

Arithmetical rule for primary classification . 2i3 

Arrangement of system . 129-30 

Attention to details . 40, 49, 55, 63, 211 

” ” patterns . 3 ), '5, 132 

Average record of loops . 137, 140 

Bertillon system . 17-18 

Bifurcations used for counting . 104-5-6-7 

Binding rules . 39, 65, 67, 98 

Business card for finger prints... 21, 131 

and finger prints . 22-29, 139 

Capacity of system . 26 

Cards, finger print . 18-27 

Central Pocket loons . 90, 227 

Changes against finding a finger print . 31-2-3 

Change in finger prints . 244 

Char^teW^tics of finger prints . 68-9. 70. 87-8 

Charting finger prints . 39, 40, 132 38 

” automatically. 66 

Charts, obtaining a supply of . 141, 143 

Civ^ulflr* Whorl ... 63 66 

Civil Pervine Commission 25 


! 











































INDEX 


259 


Classifying' Arches 

Central PocKet Coops 

Loops . 

Lateral rocKet Loops 
Tented Arches 
Twinned Loops 

Whorls .. 

Code Telegraphic .. 

Commercial utility of finger prints 

Comparison, value of. 

Completing identification 

Complex Cores 

Constructive steps 

Core of patterns 

Cost of sing e finger printing 

Counts, making the. 

Creased patterns 
Criminal identification 
Customers, finger printing of 
Dedication 

Defaulting employees’ 

Definitions of complex patterns. 

” ” character 


Deltas ... 

, position of. 

Demominators .. 

Details for comparison 
Descriptive nomenclature 
Deviation of Loop patterns 
Development of latents 
Distinct classification 
Distinctive Loops 

Dividing the classification . 

Division of Arches .. 

” Centra] Pocket Loops 
” Loops 
” patterns 
” ” Whorls 

” , sub 

Double bifurcations . 

” spiral Whorls . 


Dots... 

Easy comparison . 

Efficiency in classifying .... 
” of finger prints 

Egyptian mummies . 

Eliminating time . 


103, 114, 200, 208 
90, 227 
41, 188 
88, 225 
114, 208 
79, 223 
63, 210 
99, 121 
22 

65, 139 
14, 15 
60-1 

59 

' ' ' 44, 74 

24 

39, 67, 98, 190 
62 

13, 30, 125 
24-o 
6 

25 
177-8 

97, 99, 246 
65, 213 

. 65, 214 

212-3-4 

139 

121 

94 


156 

. 63, 94 

58 

190-1-2-3 
103, 114, 200, 208 
90, 227 
43, 62, 190 
129-30 
63-78 
129 
104 
73 
100 
71 

14, 176 
17-26 
244 
31 


















































260 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Ellipitical Whoris.. 76 

Enclosures, ridge details 104 

Ends ” ” ... v ."..ZZZZZZZZZZ'75,’ 88, 89 

Enumeration of details . 98 

Errors in classifying . 94 

Establishing identity . 87, 139 

Estrada case. 156 

Evidence in court..... 13, 125, 249 

” of change ... 244 

Example of the use of this system. 31-2 

Expansion of system . 26 

Facts for finger printing . 104 

Fifth segregation . 59 

File, size of. 26, 143 

Filing a classification . 132 

” , order of . 129-30 

Finding termini’s . 213 

finger prints . 125 

Finger printing customers . 21-2-3 

pri ts in court.. 13, 125, 249 

record. 12 

” a Social necessity.. 28 

singularity. 101 

to be printed ..... 28 

Fire insurance records . 24 

First finger print ._... 242 

” segregation ...1. 42 

Forks# ridge detail . 103-4-5-6 

Foundation of finger print. 14, 243 

Fourth segregation . 53, 75 

Function of expert ... 13, 176 

Gal ton, Sir Francis. 244 

Geometrical progression ... 123, 211-12-13 

Glass, use of magnifying . 96 

Government and finger print uses... 25. 248 9 

Guessin,g omit ... 13, 81, 104, 126 

Identification bureaus, establishing . 14 

Criminal ... 13, 125 

” Chart .. 37, 131, 147 

scientific ... 56, 242. 247 

Illustration of code telegrams ..... 99-02 

Impressions, finger print. 9 2 

brw to chart ... 69, 99, 125, 127 

Impoortant features . 147 

Individual chameterizatioon .. 52, 92, 97 

initiative . 56. 80 

Indexing patterns ... 39, 67, 132 

















































INDEX 


261 


Inking- the pad . 4 ^ 72 

lnners . IIIIZZ k .198, 213 

Inner termini's ... 0 9, 70, 198 

International Association lor ldentnication 251-5 

Introduction . 13 

instruments for taking- fing-er prints 27 

Insurance of automobiles 24 

Islands, ridge detail . 104-5-6-7 

Key charts or cards.21, 131, 133, 153 

Keying linger prints . + 132 

Large Whorls . * 77 

Largest number oof patterns ._ -. 30 

Lateral Pocket Loops.. 34 225 

Latents, source of. 19 20 

Learning to classify . 190 

Lelt delta, function of . 214 

Left slope Loops. 34 

Lettered combinations . 239-40-1 

Likeness of finger prints . 22, 244 

Little finger counts ..'. 199 

Loops . 41, 191 

Lest identity . 28 

Make the counts, how to ...'. 39, 67, 195 

Making a search . 125 

Major groupes . 129-30 

Marred patterns . 62 

Meets. 213 

Missing people and finger prints. 28 

fingers, how to classify ... 206 

Modern uses of finger prints . 248 

Navy U. S., identification in . 249 

Noticable features .;.. 63, 94 

Number of finger prints system will hold . 26 

” Loop types. 125 

” segregations . 129 

Numerators . 212-13-14 

Numerical progression . 211-12-13, 127 

Numeric value of Whorls . 213 

Obtoining the charts . 143 

Observation of details ...;. 42 

Operating the S. F. P. I. System . 125 

Order of classifying . 39, 67, 85 

” ” file .:... 129-30 

Origin of finger prints . 243 

” originals ... 15-6-7-8 

Outer terminus . 213 















































262 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


i 


Outers, classifying . 190 

Outline of ridges . 118 

Overcoming errors . 117 

Pastports, finger print upon . 24 

Persistence of patterns ...„. -43 

Physical character from finger prints . 70, 86, -04 

Points for comparison. 92 

Porescophic study . 87 

Position of Arch counts ._...... 103-12 

Position of deltas . 80, 213 

Powder to develope latents ..... 160 

Practice of finger prints, first . 243 

” classifiers . 67 

Preparing a finger print for classifying ...... 127 

Present system of classification . 14 

Price of civilization . 28 

Principles of scientific identification . 19 

Printing a single finger. 81 

Primary classification . 189 

Proficiency in classifying. 170 

Progress in society . 253 

Pronounced types . 47 

Proof of innocence . 176 

Protection, finger print ....’. 15, 17 

, fraternal and secret society 25 

, Insurance Co. . 24 

Quick methods . 23 

Quickness of S. F. P. I. System ... 125 

Radial Loops . 188 

Record cards . 12, 18, 27 

Registering finger prints .. 525 

Regularity of finger print ridges 2^3 

Removal of ink from fingers 24 

Representative formula . 214 

ResponsibiMty of finger print expert 13, 176 

Results daily produced ..... 23, 156 

to he gained . 15 

Retarding the system . 149 

Ridge counting. ; . 39, 67, 195 

” formation, results of . 22 

tracing . 212 

R]>ht slope Loops. 34 

Rolling ink for finger printing . 46-7 

Rolled impressions charted ..... 125, 127 

Rules, binding ..... 34, 39, 67 
















































INDEX 


263 


Rules for classifying • ^88 

Safeguards, finger printing . 67 

Scarred patterns.'. 62 

Science of linger printing . ZZZZZZ 33 

Scientific identity principles of 24 

Searching for finger prints . ’ T. 126 

Second segregation . 39 

Secondary classification ... .190, 214 

Segregating the Loops ’ 41 

” ” whoris ;:::::;;:;;zz zzz:::::zz;.63 

Separating the types . :ZZZ”Z”Z 33 

Seventh segregation of Loops . 61 

Short delta lines . 57 

Signature, finger print as a... 20 , 23 

Similarity of finger prints . 243 

Simplicity of finger print patterns .'. 26 

Single linger print identification . 27 

Start of finger printing . 204 

Starting points to work from . 40 

Sub-division of system . 129-30 

Study of system . 23 

Sub-classification . 214 

Supply of charts . 1/1 3 

Successful utilization . 156 

Symbols. 120-4 

for Loops . 42 

Symmetry of patterns . 103 

” ridges .. t . 9 * 

Technic, Finger print . : . 121-2-3 

Telegraphic code . 99 

Telegraphing details . 120 

Tented Arches . 114, 208 

Testimony, finger prints as . 13, 249 

Third segregation of patterns . 

Title of finger prints. 17 

Tracing the ridges . 2 1 3 

Training the eye . ^5 

Twinned Loops ... 79, 223 

Tvpes of patterns . 41, 124 

Ulnar Loops . 50-1-2 

ITmoue finger prints .. . 

Unit Systems .. 212-3 

Universal classification ... 13, 138 

U^es of finger prints. 23 

Use of Intents . 156 

Useful knowledge . ... 30, 42 
















































264 


SINGLE FINGER PRINT SYSTEM 


Using the nearest delta 
V ^niating patterns 

Value of Arches .. 

” feature© 

” Lateral Pocket Loops 
” ” Whorls 

Variations in searching 
Vucetich system 
Whorls 

, classifying 

” , elongated . 

, inside .. 

” , meeting . 

, outside . 

, spiral . 

, types .. 


67 
94 
201 
i04 
81 
63 
34 
24S 
63, 210 
67 
72 
212 
213-4 
213 
71 
70S 
















































